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Connecticut, like other states, launched an online health exchange -- Access Health CT -- where residents can shop for and purchase health insurance. There could be new opportunities for the unemployed or uninsured to receive health insurance. Here, we gather our coverage of changes under the new federal law.

State Considers Special Enrollment Period for Obamacare

Access Health CT

When people without health insurance get around to filing their taxes this year, they may find that they have to pay a penalty. State officials are working on a fix. 

The Affordable Care Act mandates that everyone have insurance or face a fine. Last year was the first year the penalty applied, but some people may not know they owe it until they prepare their 2014 taxes -- and it's already too late to sign up for health insurance for 2015.

So, officials at Access Health CT are considering what they're calling a special enrollment period.

"The special enrollment," said Jim Wadleigh, the agency's CEO, "would be for those customers that realize during tax season that they fell into that category of they need to purchase health care coverage and... they're finding out for the first time that they have a penalty for their 2014 tax return. We would open up that special enrollment period for them to be able to enroll for this year."

Wadleigh said he expects a formal announcement soon. He also said he's pleased with the number of people who signed up for insurance already in 2015. Just over 204,000 people enrolled in health care plans. Of them, 162,000 were into government-funded Medicaid, while nearly 42,000 signed up for private insurance.

Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman praised the state for being a national leader. "I am appreciative that Connecticut is taking our obligation to our residents seriously," she said.  

This comes as Wyman and Governor Dannel Malloy are proposing moving some people off of Medicaid and cutting the amount of money the program pays its doctors for care.

Jeff Cohen started in newspapers in 2001 and joined Connecticut Public in 2010, where he worked as a reporter and fill-in host. In 2017, he was named news director. Then, in 2022, he became a senior enterprise reporter.

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