Healthcare Marketplace cancelled me, through no fault on my part. Do I still have to pay the penalty?

[mrszunitedfan]

I attempted to sign up for healthcare through the Marketplace for 2018.  I couldn't get through on the phone before the deadline, so they called me back and said I qualified for the Special Enrollment Period.  Instead of enrolling me in the plan I chose, they enrolled me in a $2,000/month plan.  I couldn't afford that plan.  They wouldn't let me sign up for a more affordable plan and they cancelled me!!  If the Marketplace cancelled me, do I still have to pay the penalty?

[Vanessa · Accepted solution]

Possibly, it depends on your household. You may qualify for an affordability exemption. This is one of the exemptions you can claim through TurboTax without a certificate number.

• coverage is unaffordable through work or the marketplace, meaning coverage would cost more than 8.16% of your households Modified Adjusted Gross Income.  You would need to know the cost of the plans to determine this https://www.healthcare.gov/tax-tool/#/

Walk through the Health Insurance section and carefully answer the questions to see if you qualify for the exemption and if so to have the exemption applied to your return.