Healthcare enrollment help offered before deadline

Deadline to sign up for health insurance is March 31; extensions offered

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Time is ticking to sign up for health insurance. Monday is the deadline, but if you've started applying and can't finish by the deadline you can get an extension.

If you don't start the enrollment process by March 31, you'll have to wait until November.

Several organizations, like the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida and Enroll America are doing everything they can to help people get signed up.

At the Enroll America office on the Southside, field organizers are getting things ready for three different enrollment events being held in Jacksonville over the weekend.

"We just like people to realize that open enrollment closes Monday night at midnight, so you need to get out and enroll and you need to do it as quickly as possible," said Enroll America Regional Field Organizer, Tony Penna.

Penna retired from Blue Cross where he received insurance coverage for his family, including his son who has Crohn's Disease. But that changed after retirement.

"Low and behold we found out that he was uninsurable because of his pre-existing condition and the affordable care act changed that," said Penna.

The most common questions people are asking: 1) What is my subsidy? 2) If I have a pre-existing condition am I still eligible? And 3) What documentation do I need to bring to get enrollment help.

Penna said: 1) Sitting down with a navigator will help you determine your subsidy, 2) You are eligible even with a pre-existing condition and 3) Bring your ID, know your social security number, and bring proof of your 2012 income and an estimate of your 2014 income.

Going to one of the events this weekend, or calling to speak with a navigator can help.

"People who don't have health insurance or who never had health insurance don't know or understand the most basic concepts, what is a deductible, what is a co pay what's a lifetime maximum, so there's education that goes on during the event to help them understand," said Penna.

There are a number of Health Care Exchange enrollment events across town put on by multiple organizations:

  • Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon, Jacksonville Epilepsy Foundation Office, 5209 San Jose Blvd, Suite 101
  • Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Jacksonville Epilepsy Foundation Office, 5209 San Jose Blvd, Suite 101
  • Friday, noon to 5 p.m., Highlands Library, 1826 Dunn Avenue
  • Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon, Enroll America, Shiloh Baptist Church, 1225 West Church Street
  • Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon, Enroll America (focused on the Hispanic community), Southside Middle School, 2948 Knights Lane East
  • Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., Jacksonville Regency Library, 9900 Regency Square Boulevard
  • Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Enroll America, Gateway Mall, 5000 Norwood Ave.


The events are free and open to the public and offer in-person navigation assistance for people wanting to shop and enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace.

You can also call the intake department of of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and make an appointment with a navigator at 1-877-553-7453.