More consumers get health insurance enrollment extensions

Maryland is the latest state to give consumers extra time to enroll in health insurance for 2015 and avoid a tax penalty. Maryland Health Connection, the state-run health insurance marketplace, announced this week that Maryland residents who owe a federal tax penalty for not having coverage in 2014 would have an additional six weeks, from March 15 through April 30, to enroll in coverage for 2015. 

Taxpayers in many states who are facing a tax penalty for lack of health insurance in 2014 will get an extension of up to 6 weeks to enroll in mandated coverage for 2015, the federal agency managing the national health insurance marketplace recently announced. The original sign-up deadline was Feb. 15.

The extension period varies depending on whether taxpayers live in a state with a federally-facilitated marketplace (HealthCare.gov) or a state that runs its own marketplace.

The following states participate in HealthCare.gov: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Residents of those states must attest to the following to be eligible for the extension:

• They're currently not enrolled in coverage through the marketplace for 2015.
• In filing their 2014 tax return, they owe a tax penalty for not having health coverage in 2014, and
• They first became aware of, or understood the implications of, the Shared Responsibility Payment after the end of open enrollment (Feb. 15) while preparing their 2014 taxes.

The special enrollment period for those consumers will begin on March 15 and end at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on April 30.  If a consumer enrolls in coverage before the 15th of the month, coverage will be effective on the first day of the following month, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Consumers can use Consumer Reports' free Health Law Helper to shop for coverage and determine their eligibility for healthcare exemptions. CMS also launched a free tool last week to determine eligibility for exemptions.

Check your eligibility for the extension at HealthCare.gov. You also can call the federally facilitated Marketplace Call Center at 800-318-2596; TTY: 855-889-4325. Assistance is available in 150 languages.

Taxpayers in states that have their own health insurance marketplaces should check with their state marketplace sites. Here's what's been announced so far: 

Those renewing coverage can switch coverage only if they have experienced a life change that meets the qualifications for a "special enrollment period."

—Tobie Stanger (@TobieStanger on Twitter)