I was unemployed for 3 months. I will I get the tax penalty for the 3 months I didn't have health insurance? NEW YORK

[peterk426]

I was unemployed for 3 months. During those 3 months, I did not have health insurance. Will I still have to pay the healthcare Tax penalty for the 3 months I was unemployed?

[MargaretL]

The penalty is waived if you had no coverage for LESS than 3 months; its called a short gap exemption. The short gap exemption applies to the federal and NY tax returns. 

Also, just to let you know... if your income was low due to unemployment and let's say, you don't have file income taxes this year because your income was too low... you do not have a penalty for not having the health insurance coverage, either.