Will Obamacare’s Tax Dodgers Take Advantage of Special Enrollment?

Those of us who take the time to understand the burdens that the federal government increasingly impose on us might be excused for envying the Obamacare tax dodgers, who got a special enrollment period to sign up for Obamacare if they let the February 15 deadline for enrollment whizz by.

From the Administration on February 20:

For those who were unaware or didn’t understand the implications of the fee for not enrolling in coverage, CMS will provide consumers with an opportunity to purchase health insurance coverage from March 15 to April 30. If consumers do not purchase coverage for 2015 during this special enrollment period, they may have to pay a fee when they file their 2015 income taxes.

These are the folks who, despite massive media coverage of Obamacare (which was signed in 2010) lived in blissful ignorance that the federal government now imposes a mandate on them to purchase a government-certified health plan. When they file their taxes, they will be shocked and appalled to learn that they owe a penalty.

For every other American, of course, ignorance of the law is no excuse. Obamacare is so unpopular, however, that the Administration knew it had to give relief to these folks.

Well, the early figures for the special enrollment are in, and they are pretty laughable: Only 36,000 of 4 million eligible enrollees signed up by March 29. Charles Gaba, an Obamacare advocate and leading expert on estimating Obamacare enrollees, thinks it’s too early to panic: Folks have another month to enroll.

I tend to agree: Someone who has still not figured out – after five years – that Obamacare imposes this mandate is unlikely to file his taxes early – or even on time.

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