The only way to avoid paying the fee is to have a waiver.
The total household income includes everyone living in the house. Your dependent is included in the household. The other waivers may apply to your household. See below for the hardship waivers. One of these may be appropriate.
One of the waivers is if the plans were not affordable. This is what it means:
If you were not offered health insurance through a job and the minimum amount you would’ve paid toward the premiums on the lowest-cost coverage available through your state’s Marketplace would have cost you more than 8.05% of your household income, then coverage was not affordable for you.
In addition, if you lived in a state in 2018 that chose not to expand Medicaid and your income is below 138% of the 2018 federal poverty level for your household size, then no affordable options were available to you.
TurboTax will automatically calculate the Medicaid exception for you if it applies to your state of residence and income.
HARDSHIPS:
Faced financial hardship
- Couldn't pay medical bills
- Got a utility shut-off notice
- Filed for bankruptcy
- Home damaged in fire, flood or other disaster
- Was evicted, facing eviction, or foreclosed on
- Homeless now or last year
Had another situation
- Family member passed away
- Was caring for an ill, disabled or aging family member
- Suffered domestic violence
- Someone else was required to insure my dependent
- Member of a religious sect opposed to insurance
- Experienced personal circumstances that create a hardship that prevented you from getting insurance
