Overnight Healthcare: 6 million could face ObamaCare penalty

As many as 4 percent of all taxpayers, 6 million people, will pay fines under ObamaCare because they lacked medical coverage and didn’t qualify for an exemption last year, according to Treasury Department projections Wednesday. Another 10 to 20 percent of taxpayers -- or 15 million to 30 million people -- were uninsured but will be excused from the mandate, shielding them from paying $95 or 1 percent of household income when they file their taxes. Wednesday's estimates provide the clearest picture so far from the administration ahead of ObamaCare's first tax season. The percentages were provided by Mark Mazur, assistant secretary for tax policy at the Treasury Department. He also said that between 4.5 million and 7.5 million people will have received federal subsidies, but didn’t offer a guess on how many will owe the IRS money. Read more here. More time to enroll? Senior officials in charge of ObamaCare are keeping the door open about the possibility of extending the current enrollment period past Feb. 15. One leader with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) did not rule out the option but said the agency will not make a decision for several weeks. The official said CMS would "address the question later" if it arises. Read more here. Details wanted on Obama's Supreme Court plan: Republican leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent a letter Wednesday demanding that the administration show its hand in case the Supreme Court rules against ObamaCare this summer. "Given HHS’s responsibilities, we believe it is prudent that the Department plan for the full range of potential outcomes and consequences of the Court’s decision," leaders of the committee wrote in a letter to HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell. The lawmakers are seeking any and all information related to the administration's preparation, which could help Republican lawmakers as they craft their own response to the highly anticipated case that begins oral arguments March 4. Read more here. ObamaCare author says bill’s language is fine: A Democratic author of ObamaCare said Wednesday that there is no need to fix what some have called a drafting error in the healthcare law that prompted the Supreme Court’s challenge. Rep. Sandy Levin (D-Mich.), who led the House Ways and Means Committee while the law was drafted, said the Affordable Care Act supports the idea of subsidies for all qualified Americans, regardless of what state they live in. "We don't think there is anything to be fixed," Levin said Wednesday at a press conference hosted by Families USA on Wednesday. Read more here. The people want their subsidies: Six in 10 people said they wanted Congress to protect their ObamaCare subsidies, which are at the center of the much-anticipated King v. Burwell case, according to a new poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation. At the same time, few people appear to be paying attention to the case, which will receive oral arguments in March. A majority (56 percent) said they have heard "nothing at all," and only 14 percent said they had heard "some" or "a lot." Read more here. Thursday’s schedule The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing about how to improve employer wellness programs. The Center for American Progress will hold a briefing to discuss the cost of any congressional response to a Supreme Court ruling against the Affordable Care Act. State by state Wyoming Medicaid expansion debate nears compromise Medicaid is expected theme in Montana governor’s State of State address Takeaways from state officials' Insure Tennessee presentation California warns e-cigarettes a health risk What we’re reading Health insurers may be finding new ways to discriminate against patients The Supreme Court could gut ObamaCare. Here’s why that might not matter More states lean toward Medicaid expansion Supreme Court case on key ObamaCare provision takes up this senator's account What you might have missed from The Hill Top Senate Democrat calls for big boost in NIH funding Senate panel approves bill to exclude vets from ObamaCare mandate Ohio Democrat flips stance on abortion Health insurance giant’s profits buoyed by Medicaid expansion Please send tips and comments to Sarah Ferris, sferris@thehill.com, and Elise Viebeck, eviebeck@thehill.com. Follow on Twitter: @thehill, @sarahnferris, @eliseviebeck