Want health coverage to begin Jan. 1? Be enrolled by Tuesday

Tuesday is the Covered California open-enrollment deadline for people who want private insurance coverage to start Jan. 1.

And it’s the deadline for those who are switching health plans to have coverage start on Jan. 1.

People can get help enrolling in health plans on Saturday at a special open enrollment event offered by Clinica Sierra Vista. Enrollment counselors will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Clinica’s Elm Street WIC office, 2790 S. Elm Ave., in Fresno.

Counselors also are available at Kaiser Permanente’s Shop KP-Fresno. The office is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Those who miss the Dec. 15 deadline to have insurance start on Jan. 1 will have until Jan. 15 to enroll in a plan for coverage to start Feb. 1.

Enrollment changes made between Jan. 16 and Jan. 31 will take effect March 1. Open enrollment for insurance in 2016 ends Jan. 31.

People who do not have health insurance will face a fee.

In 2015, the fee for not having insurance is $325 per person or 2 percent of the tax filer’s annual household income, whichever is greater. In 2016, the fee will be 2.5 percent of consumers’ income or $695 per person — whichever is larger.

For information about health plans offered through Covered California, visit the website or get help from a call center at 800-300-1506.

This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Want health coverage to begin Jan. 1? Be enrolled by Tuesday."