Deadline Fast Approaching For Health Insurance Coverage That Starts With New Year
By Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There's still time to sign up for health insurance that will begin January 1st -- but not much.
Open enrollment continues at healthcare.gov through February 15th, but Monday is the deadline for getting coverage that begins with the new year.
Health is more important than anything," says Federal health services administrator Mary Wakefield. "I think folks should be thinking about giving themselves a New Year's present and that means making sure they have health insurance coverage come January 1."
Wakefield says more than 660,000 new subscribers have chosen a health plan since enrollment opened in November and they'll be covered when the year changes. She hopes a flurry of enrollment events over the weekend will boost that number. Among those are mobile enrollment centers by Independence Blue Cross. Vice president Paula Sunshine advises quick action.
"As we get closer to the deadline, we are seeing increasing volume," Sunshine says, "and the FFM (federally facilitated marketplace) is likely to be exceedingly busy on Monday, and we're encouraging folks not to wait."
Sunshine also encourages current subscribers to go back online and make sure their plans and subsidy amounts still work for them. There are more insurers and more options this year.
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Independence Blue Cross is offering help though its mobile center at these locations.
December 11 and12, 2014
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Northeast Shopping Center
9173 Roosevelt Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19114
December 13 through December 15, 2014
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Riverview Shopping Center
1100 Columbus Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 10147
Or through representatives at transit stations:
December 15, 2014
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Jefferson Station (formerly Market East Station)
Market Street between 10th & 12th streets
Philadelphia, PA 19107
December 15, 2014
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
69th Street Transportation Center
69th and Market streets
Upper Darby, PA 19082
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