A new chance to sign up for health care and avoid penalties

Uninsured New Mexicans who owe a penalty have until April 30 to get covered

A unique opportunity for people across New Mexico is slipping through their fingers — and they may not even know it.

Uninsured New Mexicans who find out that they owe a penalty for lacking health coverage can still sign up through April 30 via www.bewellnm.com and avoid some of next year’s heightened penalties. This is a unique opportunity to provide our friends and family with the health care they need.

However, there has been little media coverage on the special health coverage enrollment period, and a lack of coordination between the exchange and tax preparation sites. As a result, many are not aware of the opportunity to get covered and avoid penalties.

During the last open enrollment period — which ended on February 15 — about 52,000 New Mexicans purchased plans on the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange.

Those people now have the peace of mind knowing that they are covered. However, there are still too many that are uninsured and have to pay a fine.

This special enrollment period gives people another chance to purchase coverage for 2015. What many don’t understand is that this is the last chance they will get to avoid next year’s penalties. If they don’t sign up now, they are on the hook for next year’s fines, which are $325 per person or 2 percent of household income.

With over 15 percent of people in the state lacking health coverage, we can’t afford to miss out on this opportunity. We need to seize the moment for the good of all of our communities in New Mexico.

For those consumers that are facing a penalty, there is still time to sign up for coverage at www.bewellnm.com. Visit your local VITA site to work with a tax preparer and explore your coverage options.

Health Action New Mexico, a nonprofit dedicated to affordable, accessible, accountable health care for all New Mexicans, has created a consumer resource for those who want more information on this opportunity. The resource includes information on the tax season health coverage enrollment period, avoiding 2015 tax penalties and how to find local in-person enrollment assistance across the entire state.

If this type of opportunity is available next year, Health Action NM recommends that NMHIX provide in-person enrollment assistance at tax preparation sites throughout the state. If consumers are able to learn about new coverage options and avoid tax penalties, more New Mexicans will be able to enjoy the security of health insurance and access the care they deserve.