Poll: Uninsured Sit on the Sidelines As Sign-Up Season Ends
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new poll finds most uninsured Americans sitting on the sidelines as sign-up season under President Barack Obama's health care law comes to a close. Thursday's survey from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation finds that:
— Only 15 percent of the uninsured know that this year's open enrollment deadline is this coming Sunday.
— More than 7 in 10 haven't tried to figure out if they qualify for the two main coverage expansions in the law, Medicaid and subsidized private insurance.
— Only 1 in 100 know the minimum penalty for being uninsured is going up to $695.
— About two-thirds say they have not been contacted about signing up.
The health care law has led to historic gains in coverage, but the poll signals those gains may be slowing.