The following coverage meets the Affordable Care Act minimum requirement for health insurance:
Employer-sponsored coverage
- Employee group health insurance
- COBRA
- Retiree coverage
Individual health coverage
- Private plan purchased from a health insurance company (Kaiser, Aetna, Blue Cross, etc.)
- Healthcare.gov or state Health Insurance Marketplace plan, including SHOP plans
- Student health insurance plan at your college or university
- Parent’s health insurance plan, if you’re under 26 years old
- “Grandfathered” individual insurance plan you’ve had since March 23, 2010 or earlier
Government-sponsored programs
- Medicare Part A, Part C or Medicare Advantage (Part B coverage by itself doesn’t qualify)
- Medicaid, except for limited coverage plans
- Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- TRICARE plans
- Veteran’s Administration (VA), CHAMPVA, or spina bifida health care program
- Peace Corps
- Department of Defense Nonappropriated Fund Health Benefits Program
- Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA)
- Basic Health Program (BHP) standard health plan
- State high-risk pools for plan or policy years that begin on or before Dec. 31, 2014
If you’re not sure if your coverage counts, call your health insurance provider and ask if your plan is recognized as minimum essential coverage.
