Millions of people get second chance to sign up for health insurance starting today.

[PoliticAverse]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Several million people hit with new federal fines for going without health insurance will get a second chance to sign up starting Sunday, and that could ease the sting of rising penalties for being uninsured.

But as the enrollment window reopens, it's unclear how many know about the time-limited opportunity, let alone will take advantage of it.

Fines payable to the IRS are the stick behind the offer of taxpayer-subsidized private insurance under President Barack Obama's health care law. Virtually everyone in the country is now required to have coverage through an employer or a government program, or by buying individual policies.

This is the first year fines are being collected from uninsured people the government deems able to afford coverage. Tax preparation company H&R Block says the penalty averages about $170 among its affected customers. It usually is deducted from a person's tax refund.

Read the rest at: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20150314/us--health_overhaul-second_chance-c6a15c88be.html

[Inbetweendays]

1. Good to know.

Thanks for posting.

[Lodestar]

2. Anyone know what these fines/penalties are? n/t

[PoliticAverse]

3. Unless you have an exemption from the requirement, it's...

The annual payment amount for 2014 is the greater of:

1 percent of your household income that is above the tax return threshold for your filing status, such as Married Filing Jointly or single, or
Your family’s flat dollar amount, which is $95 per adult and $47.50 per child, limited to a maximum of $285.

From: http://www.irs.gov/Affordable-Care-Act/The-Individual-Shared-Responsibility-Payment-An-Overview

For specifics see: http://www.irs.gov/Affordable-Care-Act/Individuals-and-Families/Individual-Shared-Responsibility-Provision

[Lodestar]

5. Thank you! n/t

[malokvale77]

4. Wonderful!

I still can not afford it.

I pay property taxes for a county health care hospital. That's my healthcare policy.

Now I am going to be punished for not being able to afford insurance that will do nothing for me.

I am so glad so many of you got such a break on your insurance at the expense of the peas on my plate.

You that can afford it the most, always benefit from us that can afford it the least.

Good going.