Sunday is deadline to sign up for health insurance or tax penalty looms

Sunday is the last day to sign up for health insurance for 2016 through Covered California, the state’s insurance marketplace that was established under the Affordable Care Act.

Californians who do not have health insurance by the Jan. 31 deadline will face a penalty of 2.5 percent of annual household income, or $695 per adult and up to $2,085 per family, whichever is higher.

Central San Joaquin Valley residents can get help signing up for insurance plans from several certified insurance agents. Agents can be found on the Covered California website. Help also is available by calling the Covered California Service Center at 800-300-1506. The service center will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

In Fresno, Clinica Sierra Vista is offering help from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Elm WIC office at 2790 S. Elm Ave.

Kaiser Permanente’s Shop KP retail store at Shaw and Brawley avenues in Fresno will have extended hours this weekend. The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday through Sunday. No appointments are needed.

People enrolling in a plan should bring the following items for each applicant and family member: recent pay stub and tax return, birthdates and Social Security numbers, citizen or immigration information, policy numbers and information for current insurance.

This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 10:53 AM with the headline "Sunday is deadline to sign up for health insurance or tax penalty looms."