The national deadline to enroll in health care during the second year of open enrollment is today, December 15, but New York has extended the deadline through Saturday.
If you plan to use the New York State of Health Marketplace to sign up for health care, you have 5 more days to enroll if you want your coverage to start on January 1st.
The state department of health says New Yorkers need the extra time because of the power outages and road closures caused by extreme winter weather since the beginning of this year’s open enrollment.
Marketplace officials report more than 150 thousand people have enrolled since November 15th who did not have insurance previously.
During the 2014 open enrollment period, more than 950 thousand people enrolled though the state exchange. Three-quarters of those who signed up to qualified health plans received financial assistance.