Time is running out if you still need health coverage for 2016. Only a few days remain before the final January 31 deadline to enroll at HealthCare.gov.

IMPORTANT If you miss the deadline, you may have to wait another year to sign up for coverage and you’ll risk being required to pay a penalty of $695 or more when you file your federal income taxes.

Coverage might be more affordable than you think. 8 out of 10 people who sign up for coverage at HealthCare.gov qualify for financial help to lower the cost of their monthly insurance premiums. And after that financial assistance, 7 out of 10 people can find plans with premiums for less than $75 dollars per month.

New to the Marketplace?

• Preview 2016 plans and prices based on your income before you apply.
• Select your state to start a new application.

Already have a 2016 Marketplace plan?

If you were automatically enrolled in a Marketplace health plan for 2016, there’s still time to shop for plans, update your information and make changes.

• New or better plans may be available that save you money and include more services.
• If you find a better plan, you can make changes any time before January 31. Log in to your HealthCare.gov account and update your information.

Help is available

Avoid the last minute rush and sign up early. If you have questions and want to talk through your options, enrollment specialists are available all day and every day at 1-800-318-2596.

Free, confidential, in-person assistance is also available at enrollment sites and events in many communities across the nation. Visit LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov to find local help in your neighborhood.

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As you begin to gather the information you need to file your taxes, it’s important to remember that information about your health coverage is now a part of the tax filing process.

Here’s what you need to know if you have Marketplace coverage:

• If you enrolled in Marketplace health coverage in 2015, you’ll soon get an important tax document in the mail, called Form 1095-A. Your 1095-A includes information you need in order to complete your 2015 federal income tax return. You should wait to file your income tax return until you receive this document in the mail. It should arrive by early February. When it arrives, keep it with your other tax records, like the W-2 you get from your employer.
• If you got financial help to lower the cost of your monthly premiums, you must file a tax return, even if you typically wouldn’t have to, and report the amount of financial assistance you got. The amounts will show on your 1095-A. Now that you know your final income for the year, you need to reconcile the difference between the amount of financial assistance you got with the amount you should have gotten based on your 2015 earnings. Information included on your Form 1095-A will help you do this. If you don’t file a tax return and reconcile your financial help, the Marketplace can’t continue to give you financial help in the future.

Remember, the fee for not having coverage is increasing again this year. If you go without health coverage in 2016, the fee you’ll have to pay next year will increase to $695 or 2.5 percent of your income — whichever is higher.

The good news is Open Enrollment for 2016 coverage is happening now and runs through January 31. If you still need coverage and want to avoid paying a fee next year, you must sign up for coverage before January 31.

Find more tax information on our taxes page, or www.IRS.gov/aca.

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Time is running out! You have until January 31, 2016 to join the millions of Americans who’ve already applied for and enrolled in a Marketplace health plan for 2016. That’s less than 2 weeks!

Don’t miss the deadline — get started now

• Preview 2016 plans and prices based on your income before you apply.
• Ready to apply? Select your state to start a new application.

Remember: Most people who apply will qualify for savings.

Were you automatically enrolled for 2016?

If you were automatically enrolled in a Marketplace health plan for 2016 but didn’t log in to update your information:

• Your savings may not be accurate
• You may have missed seeing new plans that work better for you

To get the right amount of savings, go to HealthCare.gov, log in to your account, update your information, and keep or change your plan by January 31.

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We’ve become aware of an email phishing scam targeted at HealthCare.gov users.

The phishing emails claim to come from HealthCare.gov and ask you to complete a verification process for 2016 tax returns through links that appears to go to HealthCare.gov.

If you receive an email like this with a link, it’s very important that you don’t click on it or copy it. It could take you to a malicious website intended to gain access to personal information, like your username, password, Social Security Number, or bank account numbers.

If you get this phishing email or any email you aren’t sure is legitimate, delete it immediately or ignore it. All official Marketplace emails are from Marketplace@HealthCare.gov.

Here’s what else you need to know:

• Don’t follow the links in the email. You can get to our website directly by typing in www.HealthCare.gov into your web browser.
• Don’t provide any personal information this email might ask for. We’ll never ask for personal information like your username, password, Social Security Number, or bank account numbers through an email.
• Make sure you have antivirus software installed and it is up-to-date.
• Get additional tips to protect against phishing scams at http://ift.tt/1yg6mPy.

Remember: The Marketplace protects your information according to all required laws, regulations and standards. For more information about the Marketplace and your privacy, visit http://ift.tt/1GL3a2n.

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As we enter a new year, consider making your health a priority.

You have until January 31, 2016 to apply for and enroll in a Marketplace health insurance plan for 2016. At HealthCare.gov, you’ll see high-quality and affordable health coverage options available to you. In fact, most who apply will qualify for savings.

Don’t delay — less than one month remains to enroll in health insurance for 2016 coverage.

• Preview 2016 plans and prices based on your income before you apply.
• Ready to apply? Select your state to start a new application.

Already have a Marketplace plan?

If you were automatically enrolled in health insurance for 2016, you’re currently covered for 2016. However, your savings may not be accurate and you may have missed seeing new plans that work better for you. To get the right amount of health insurance savings, you should log in, update your information, and keep or change your plan by January 31.

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