Nevada Health Link holding tax season enrollment period

Nevada Health Link is holding a special enrollment period for individuals and families who didn’t have health insurance coverage in 2014 and are subject to the shared responsibility payment when they file their 2014 taxes.

For Nevadans who are unaware or didn’t understand the implications of the fee for not enrolling in coverage, Nevada Health Link is providing consumers with an opportunity to purchase coverage from March 15 to April 30.

If consumers don’t purchase coverage for 2015 during this special enrollment period, they may have to pay a fee when they file their 2015 income taxes.

The special enrollment period is for individuals and families who didn’t have health insurance in 2014 and not currently enrolled through Nevada Health Link for 2015; who are paying or have paid the fee for not having health insurance when filing their 2014 taxes; who didn’t know about the fee or understand what it meant to them until after the end of open enrollment, which was Feb. 15.

In accordance with the federal health care law, those who didn’t qualify for an exemption and went without health coverage in 2014 have to pay a fee — $95 per adult, or 1 percent of their income, whichever is greater when they file their taxes this year. The fee increases to $325 per adult, or 2 percent of income for 2015. Nevadans who take advantage of this period will still need to pay their fee for 2014 and will also need to pay for any months not insured during 2015.

Although the enrollment stores are now closed, Nevadans who qualify can still get in-person assistance from agents, brokers and enrollment assisters. To find in-person assistance, go to the zip-code search tool at nevadahealthlink.com/gethelp, or call 1-855-768-5465.

For more information about the special enrollment period, go to nevadahealthlink.com/specialenrollment, or review the Nevada Health Link Update Sheet. For information in Spanish, go to enlacedeseguromediconevada.com/inscripcionesespeciales.