JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you have not signed up for health care, you are running out of time to do it before facing a penalty. Open enrollment for 2015 ends Sunday.
On Saturday, health care navigators were on hand to help those who needed it at the Regency Square Mall in Arlington.
"I felt like speaking to a live person. Interacting would be the best for me to understand exactly what the marketplace is all about," said Regina Fahnbulleh, who signed up for coverage on Saturday. "It would be devastating just in the event that something happened and we did not have coverage and had to come out of pocket. So this is a great idea. I'm glad for the opportunity."
Fahnbulleh is between jobs and wanted to make sure she and her daughter have coverage. She said the process was excellent and she was able to sign up.
She is one of more than 72,000 people in Duval County who have enrolled in health care. Last year, that number was less than 40,000, according to Enroll America, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people sign up for health insurance.
Navigators also want people to know there is a penalty if you do not sign up for health insurance. The penalty is $325 per adult, half of that for children, or 2 percent of your annual income.
People can still enroll online, but Tony Penna with Enroll America says they are starting to hear that it is slowing down because so many people are using it.
"So what you can do is come here sit down with the navigator and at least they can take your information and get back to you. If you don't enroll by midnight (Sunday) you're not going to get coverage," said Penna.
Penna says in Florida, more than 90 percent of people registered get a government subsidy. He also says the average cost of healthcare per month for people who have enrolled this cycle is $68
"I encourage everybody to come take advantage of what's being offered," said Fahnbulleh.
If you missed Saturday's session, you have one last chance to get help enrolling. Navigators will be here at Regency Square Mall from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.