Delaware tax filers who owed a penalty on their 2014 taxes for being uninsured or underinsured in 2014 have until Thursday to sign up for coverage for the rest of 2015 and lessen their penalty next year.
The special enrollment period is open to individuals and families who did not have health coverage in 2014, who owed the penalty when they filed their 2014 taxes, and who first became aware of the penalty while preparing their taxes after open enrollment ended Feb. 15.
If those eligible don’t purchase coverage by April 30, they may have to pay another penalty when they file their 2015 income taxes next year.
Individuals who take advantage of the special enrollment period will still owe a penalty for the months they were uninsured and did not receive an exemption in both 2014 and 2015.
The penalty for not having coverage in 2014 was 1 percent of household income or $95 per person, whichever is greater. The penalty increases in 2015 to 2 percent of household income or $325 per person.
