The Maui News

The open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Marketplace is Wednesday to Dec. 15, and the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii is offering assistance to residents.

The marketplace is for people who don’t have health insurance through a job, Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program or another source that provides qualifying health coverage, according to the website www.healthcare.gov.

“The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii encourages Hawaii residents without health insurance to find affordable coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace,” the news release said.

Hawaii residents who currently have marketplace plans should update their information in their marketplace accounts. After open enrollment closes Dec. 15, only those who qualify for special enrollment can purchase health care insurance.

Coverage begins as late as Jan. 1.

Residents without health insurance coverage may face a fine on their tax returns. Fines may include the higher of these two amounts — $695 per adult (and $347.50 per child) up to $2,085 or 2.5 percent of the annual household income in excess of the return filing threshold up to the national average premium for a bronze level health plan. In 2016, the national average was $2,676 per year for an individual bronze plan.

Legal Aid Society of Hawaii’s Health Care Navigators are providing assistance for free. To make an appointment, call (808) 536-4302, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday or visit www.legalaidhawaii.org. 

Established in 1950 with 11 offices statewide — including on Maui, Molokai and Lanai — the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii is a nonprofit, public interest law firm dedicated to increasing access to justice for the state’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged people.