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Need health insurance? Deadline for healthcare.gov enrollment is Dec. 15

If you miss the enrollment period, you may not be able to sign up again until the following fall.

Quaker Voluntary Service Fellow Sarah Bluett (left) and Community Engagement Specialist Joanna Rosenhein (middle) help a client review their health coverage options and sign up for a plan on the 2020 enrollment period's first day of open enrollment at The Friends Center in Philadelphia.
Quaker Voluntary Service Fellow Sarah Bluett (left) and Community Engagement Specialist Joanna Rosenhein (middle) help a client review their health coverage options and sign up for a plan on the 2020 enrollment period's first day of open enrollment at The Friends Center in Philadelphia.Read moreElizabeth Robertson / File Photograph

Attention procrastinators: The deadline to enroll in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, healthcare.gov, is just days away.

The annual open enrollment period is a time for people who buy individual health plans — as opposed to getting insurance through an employer — to review coverage and select a plan. The deadline to enroll for 2020 is Sunday, Dec. 15.

If you miss the enrollment period, you may not be able to sign up again until the following fall. Special enrollment periods outside open enrollment are only available to people who experience “life events” such as marriage, birth, a job change or relocation.

People eligible for Medicaid can sign up at any time during the year.

Shopping for health insurance can seem daunting, but enrollment specialists say it’s worth checking out your options — insurance may be more affordable than you think, if you’re eligible for an income-based tax credit.

» READ MORE: A Philly woman’s broken back and $36,000 bill show how some health insurance brokers trick consumers into skimpy plans

With enrollment season in full swing, its important to be wary of scammers trying to take advantage of people looking for a deal on insurance.

The Trump administration has made it easier for private, third-party websites to enroll people in healthcare.gov plans and qualify them for income-based tax credits. But these websites may also sell other types of insurance, such as short-term limited-duration and indemnity plans, which will offer far less coverage for a cheaper price.

If you want to be sure you’re buying comprehensive major medical insurance, stick to the official ACA marketplace website, healthcare.gov. Make sure any plan you buy covers pre-existing conditions and essential health benefits (things like primary care, mental health and prescription drugs), and does not have a cap on plan spending.

» READ MORE: He didn’t know he had a preexisting condition — until his insurer rejected his $35,000 hospital bill

Need more help? Pennsylvania Health Access Network, an organization that receives public funding to assist consumers with the enrollment process, can help review your options. Find others who can help through healthcare.gov.