About Insuring Your Health
KHN contributing columnist Michelle Andrews writes the series , which explores health care coverage and costs.
To contact Michelle with a question or comment, .
Is everyone required to have health insurance or pay a fine?
Most people who can afford to buy health insurance but don’t do so will face a penalty, sometimes called a “shared responsibility payment.” , which began in 2014, applies to adults and children alike, but there are exceptions for certain groups of people and those who are experiencing financial hardship.
What kind of insurance satisfies the requirement to have coverage?
Most plans that provide comprehensive coverage count as “.” That includes job-based insurance and plans purchased on the individual market, either on or off the exchange. Most Medicaid plans and Medicare Part A, which covers hospital benefits, count as well, as do most types of Tricare military coverage and some Veterans Affairs coverage.
Insurance that provides limited benefits generally does not qualify, including standalone vision and dental plans or plans that only pay in the event someone has an accident, or gets cancer or another specified illness.
If IÂ don’t have health insurance, how much will IÂ owe?
The penalty has risen each year since 2014. For 2015,  is the and $162.50 per child under age 18, up to a maximum of $975 per family, or 2 percent of the portion of your family’s modified adjusted gross income that is more than the . That threshold is $10,300 for an individual,$13,250 for a head of household and $20,600 for a married couple filing jointly.
For 2016, the penalty will be the greater of $695 or 2.5 percent of income.
Although much of the discussion is often about the flat dollar penalty – $325 in 2015 — many people will be paying substantially more than that. A single person earning more than $26,550 would not qualify for the $325 penalty ($26,550 – $10,300 = $16,250 x 2 percent = $325.)  is the standard that will apply in most cases, say experts. For example, for a single person whose modified adjusted gross income is $35,000, the penalty would be $494 ($35,000 – $10,300 = $24,700 x 2 percent = $494. That same individual would have paid $249 in penalties for 2014.
The penalty is capped at the national average price for a bronze plan, which the was $2,484 for an individual and $12,240 for a family of five or more in 2015.
Many more people will be able to avoid the penalty altogether because their income is below the filing threshold.
If I owe a penalty for not having insurance, how do I pay it?
If you had health insurance for  at all, you’ll have to file , which allows you to claim an exemption from the requirement to have insurance or calculate your penalty for the months that you weren’t covered.
What if I just realized I face a penalty. Can I do anything to avoid a penalty next year?
Open enrollment for 2016 coverage ended Jan. 31. However, if you have a change in your life circumstances such as getting married, adopting a child or losing your job and your health insurance, it may trigger a  during which you can sign up for or change coverage and avoid paying a fine. In addition, if your income is low and meets guidelines in the law, you can generally sign up for your state’s CHIP or Medicaid program at any time.
What if I have a gap in coverage after open enrollment ends? Will I have to pay a fine?
It depends. If the gap in coverage is less than three consecutive months, you can avoid owing a penalty. Subsequent coverage gaps during the year, however, could trigger a fine.
If you have coverage for even one day during a month, it counts as coverage for that month. The penalty, if there is one, would be calculated in monthly increments.
Are parents responsible for paying the penalty if their kids don’t have coverage?
They may be. If you claim a child as a dependent on your tax return, you’ll be on the hook for the penalty if the child doesn’t have insurance. In cases where parents are divorced, the parent who claims the child as a tax dependent would be responsible for the penalty.
Who’s exempt from the requirement to have insurance?
The list of possible  is a long one. You may be eligible for an exemption if:
- Your income is below the federal income tax filing threshold (see above).
- The lowest priced available plan costs more than 8.05 percent of your income.
- Your income is less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level (about $16,105 for 2015 coverage for an individual) and your state did not expand Medicaid coverage to adults at this income level as permitted under the health law.
- You experienced one of several hardships, including eviction, bankruptcy or domestic violence.
- You are a member of an Indian tribe, health care sharing ministry or a religious group that objects to insurance.
- You are in jail.
- You are an immigrant who is not in the country legally.
For a more complete list go to the Ìý²¹³ÙÌýÌý or the  on shared responsibilities provisions on the IRS website.
When should I claim or file for an exemption?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. You can claim  when you file your tax return in 2016, but for others, you will have to complete an exemption application available at .
Are U.S. citizens living overseas subject to the penalty for not having insurance?
 for at least 330 days during a 12-month period, you aren’t required to have coverage in the States.
What happens if I don’t pay the penalty?
The IRS may offset your income tax refund to collect the penalty, but that’s about it. Unlike other situations where the tax agency can garnish wages or file liens to collect unpaid taxes,  in cases where people don’t pay the penalty for not having insurance.
This story was originally published March 24, 2014.