Sign Up For Affordable Care at Jan. 30 Event

The January 31 deadline to sign up for healthcare coverage under the Affordable Care Act is drawing near, and those who don’t have insurance will be fined $695. Tampa Family Health Centers (TFHC) is holding a sign-up event on Saturday, Jan. 30 to help residents enroll and get coverage starting March 1. The sign-up event will be held at 8108 North Nebraska Avenue from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. The event also will offer free health and dental screenings and healthy refreshments. Most people in the U.S. are required to have health coverage or pay a fee, although there are exemptions available in certain circumstances. The tax penalty for not having coverage in 2016 is $695 per adult plus $347.50 per child or 2.5 percent household income, whichever is greater. Exemptions for the penalty are available for low income and special categories. "This is a prime opportunity for people who want help in accessing good, quality health coverage before the deadline," said TFHC Chief Executive Officer Charles Bottoms. "This one-on-one assistance is vital and I urge anyone who needs health insurance to take advantage of it." Residents will need their Social Security numbers, birth dates, employer and income information (pay stubs or W-2 forms), and email addresses for any health insurance plans. Also, if they want to sign up before the January 30 event, they may call Certified Application Counselors at 813-397-5316 or visit one of 16 TFHC locations: 7814 North Dale Mabry Highway 4620 North 22nd Street 8213 West Waters Avenue 3901 South WestShore Boulevard 1502 East Fowler Avenue 2103 North Rome Avenue 8108 North Nebraska Avenue 7608 Causeway Boulevard 5611 Sheldon Road 13601 North 22nd Street 9827 North Sheldon Road 6216 East Sligh Avenue 302 West Fletcher Avenue 5707 North 22nd Street 4422 East Columbus Drive 3100 E. Fletcher Avenue