Massachusetts health insurance coverage penalty after company acquisition

[jamesbr0wn]

Here is my situation:

I live in Massachusetts and had health insurance that met MMC from Jan to July.   Afterwards, my employer was acquired by another company and my health insurance changed but I was still paying premiums.  I learn now that the new health insurance did not meet the Massachusetts MMC guidelines.  As such, it looks like both my spouse and myself will get penalized heavily in our state taxes.  We can afford health insurance, buy if we had known that we were undercovered by our new insurance, we would have reacted.  

Am I correct that my spouse and I are on the hook for this?

The HC worksheet says there is a way to appeal the penalty.  How to I submit an appeal through TurboTax.  There is a checkbox in the tax form and the manual instructions say to zero out the penalty if you want to appeal.  How do I access this in the application.

Thanks.

[TeresaM · Accepted solution]

As you go through the health section of the Massachusetts return, look for the screen titled Health Care Appeal Needed? and check the box. 

An appeal form will be mailed to you and the penalty will not be included in your Massachusetts tax liability at this time. 

[jamesbr0wn]

Thanks! Not sure how I missed the appeal screen.

JB