JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A deadline is quickly approaching for Americans who have not yet signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
Nearly 1.2 million Floridians have already selected plans through the federal health-insurance marketplace or have been automatically re-enrolled since the open-enrollment period began Nov. 15.
Government officials said there are nearly 3.9 million uninsured Floridians who could benefit from the Affordable Care Act, although about 20 percent fall into the coverage gap created when the Florida Legislature declined to expand Medicaid.
There are only four weeks left to sign up for coverage. Thursday, News4Jax will host a phone bank to help guide viewers through the process.
"People never know when they are going to get sick or there is going to be an accident. They have no idea," said Tony Penna, regional organizing director for Enroll America.
Penna knows firsthand the value of health insurance, because he's been to the emergency room before.
"One thought that never went through my head was 'How am I going to pay for this?' The reason for that is because I have insurance," Penna said. "The bills are taken care of through insurance. That accident happened to me in a blink of an eye. It could happen to anyone."
Many people fear they can't afford health insurance but Penna said more than 90 percent of enrollees qualify for financial assistance.
It will be costly for people who qualify for minimum coverage but don't enroll in coverage through the Affordable Care Act.
The formula to determine the penalty is complex, but in general it is 2 percent of annual household income, or $325 per adult and $162.50 per child, whichever is higher.
The maximum penalty is either the national average premium for a bronze plan or $975 per family.
Some individuals don't have to pay a penalty, including those who don't have to file a tax return because their income is too low, or find that the lowest-priced marketplace plan costs more than 8 percent of their income.
"They're not responsible for paying a penalty, but they still need help, so we're going to have people like Jax Total Care here, St. Vincent's Pathways here," said Mincy Pollock of First Coast Multi Alliance Care Team. "These are programs that will give health coverage to people who don't have coverage at all."
That's why it's important for everyone to find out what is available.
Viewers can get questions answered and set up an appointment for an event Saturday in the Regency Square Mall during the News4Jax phone bank from 5-7 p.m. Thursday. The number for the phone bank is 800-366-9598.
Assistants are already stationed at the mall to help, so you don't have to wait for Saturday's event to stop by. There is no cost.
"They don't know how much they should have for their premium and picking it in the range," Pollock said. "That's one of the things that having an in-person assistant handy will do -- walk you through the process."
Open enrollment closes Feb 15.