People flock to enrollment sites for last-minute health insurance sign-ups

By Jackie Valley

Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015 | 2:15 p.m.

The clock is ticking to sign up for government-subsidized health insurance plans: Open enrollment ends at midnight tonight.

By late morning, the waiting area in the Enrollment Store at Boulevard mall was nearly full with people hoping to enroll in health insurance through Nevada Health Link. A mile away, a line had formed outside of UNLV’s Cox Pavilion an hour prior to the enrollment event beginning at 11 a.m. there.

Silver State Health Insurance Exchange officials expect Nevada enrollment numbers to easily eclipse 60,000 this year. By Feb. 6, more than 59,000 Nevada residents had signed up or re-enrolled for health coverage through healthcare.gov, the federal platform for enrollment, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Last year, about 32,000 Nevadans received insurance through the exchange marketplace, said Bruce Gilbert, executive director of Nevada’s exchange.

“We’re going to break 60,000 this year,” he said. “We’re feeling pretty good, frankly.”

The open-enrollment period began Nov. 15, and as it neared its final days, exchange officials increased their marketing efforts to reach Hispanics and “young invincibles” — young adults in good health who don’t see the need for insurance. Nationwide, it has been a struggle convincing those two groups to sign up for insurance, Gilbert said.

Individuals who sign up for insurance today through Nevada Health Link, the state-created organization that helps residents find insurance plans based on income, will have coverage starting March 1. The enrollment process on healthcare.gov takes about 35 minutes to complete, officials said.

The Affordable Care Act requires most U.S. residents to have health coverage or face a tax penalty.

“It’s important to understand that the law requires you to get insurance,” Gilbert said. “But, more importantly than that, it’s a good idea to have it. You never know when you’re going to get sick. You never know when you’re going to get in an accident. You never know when you’re going to get hurt. You don’t want to have to worry about medical bills.”

Enrollment assisters will be available today to help people sign up for insurance until 9 p.m. at the Enrollment Store at Boulevard mall and until 7 p.m. at UNLV’s Cox Pavilion.

Nevada residents also can visit Nevadahealthlink.com or healthcare.gov/marketplace to begin the enrollment process. To enroll, you need the following items:

• Nevada driver’s license or picture ID

• Permanent resident/alien registration card, if applicable

• Social Security cards for all tax household members

• Date of birth for all tax household members

• Proof of Nevada residence, such as a phone or power bill

• Best estimate of what your household income will be in 2015

• Copies of any current health insurance information

• Employer contact information if you have job-based coverage