BRIEF: Health insurance enrollment up in Florida as deadline nears

Dec. 07--With only a week remaining in a shortened enrollment period to purchase health insurance at HealthCare.gov this year, 802,711 Floridians have signed up for coverage -- an 18 percent increase from a similar point last year. But health policy analysts worry about a possible drop-off in the last few days before the Dec. 15 deadline, which could leave fewer Americans covered next year than in 2017.

A tax penalty for not carrying health care insurance remains in place, and starts at $695 for an individual. According to Get America Covered, a nonprofit group that promotes enrollment under the Affordable Care Act, nine out of 10 Floridians qualify for subsidies that bring the monthly cost of insurance down to $75 or less.

Enrollment help is available at CoveringFlorida.org, or by calling 877-813-9115.

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