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Deadline Approaching To Apply For Healthcare

With just a couple weeks before the deadline, less than 10 percent of South Dakota's estimated uninsured population have signed up for health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act. As of Tuesday, nearly 6,765 people in the state had signed up for coverage. South Dakota is one of 36 states relying on the federal Healthcare.gov website to sign up for insurance. Those without health insurance have until March 31 to enroll to avoid a penalty next year of $95 or 1 percent of their income, whichever is greater. People without insurance can access the health care exchange at www.healthcare.gov, by calling 800-318-2596 or by working directly with Dakotacare, Sanford or Avera. Debra Muller, chief administrator for Avera insurance plans, and Ruth Krystopolski, president of the Sanford health plan, discussed how the signings have been going and what problems they're running into.