Colorado’s health insurance exchange is making a last-minute push to sign people up for coverage and warning of tax penalties if they don’t.
For most people, Sunday is the deadline to purchase a policy. Federal tax credits for doing so are available only through , the state’s health insurance marketplace.
The exchange plans to open its downtown store, at 1600 California St. on the mall, from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday to accommodate last-minute customers.
People can also check the Connect for Health Colorado events calendar, talk to a health insurance broker or call the exchange at 855-752-6749.
The exchange planned to extend its hours to 10 p.m. Friday and midnight Saturday and Sunday.
“We know from experience that we will see a number of customers in these final days of open enrollment,” said Kevin Patterson, the exchange chief. “But I want to emphasize it is time to act. There are just a few days left for Coloradans to get covered in 2016. The penalty for going without coverage this year has increased.”
People who lost plans, such as customers of the , will have until Feb. 29 to sign up for coverage that begins Mar. 1.
The federal tax penalty for going without coverage is expected to average nearly $1,000 per household, depending on 2016 income.
Exchange spokesman Luke Clarke said nearly 140,000 people had signed up through mid-January. Sixty-two percent are returning customers, and the rest are new.
Additionally, about 45,000 people had qualified for Medicaid through the exchange as of mid-January.
The last year that expanded Medicaid eligibility had driven a huge increase in health coverage, but estimated that several hundred thousand people remain uninsured.
Clarke said last-minute applicants who fail to get an immediate decision will be accommodated. “We can get them in,” he said.
David Olinger: 303-954-1498, dolinger@denverpost.com or @dolingerdp
