COLORBEARER OF ATHENS, GEORGIA LOCALLY OWNED SINCE 1987
December 28, 2016

Sign Up for Obamacare While You Still Can

It's no secret that the incoming Trump Administration and congressional Republicans are plannning to dismantle Obamacare. But you can still sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act—at least for the next year.

While the deadline to buy coverage effective on Jan. 1 was Dec. 19, HHS has extended the open enrollment period until Jan. 31, 2017.

In addition, health care navigators from the Macon-based group Insure Georgia will be at the Athens-Clarke County Library (2025 Baxter St.) from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Thursday to help people sign up.

A record 6.4 million consumers have bought insurance on healthcare.gov during the current open enrollment period through Dec. 19, including more than 2 million new customers, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. That includes 352,382 consumers in Georgia.

HHS also estimates that 365,000 Georgians are eligible for ACA tax credits but haven't taken advantage of them, including 95,000 who are paying full price outside of the ACA's health care marketplace.

A 27-year-old in Georgia who earns $25,000 a year would pay $142 a month for a middle-tier silver plan worth $273 a month. Under the ACA subsidies rise to offset rising premiums.

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