No health coverage while unemployed

[mcgilbdd]

I was unemployed for half a year, and drew unemployment. During that time, I had no insurance. Will I still pay a penalty? Do I have to file an exemption or what?

[ValerieE · Accepted solution]

Yes, you may have to pay the penalty.  The ACA exemptions do not include an exemption for being unemployed.  However, being unemployed may contribute to other hardships that are exemptions from the ACA penalty.  Health Care.gov puts it this way:

"Like other Americans, you must have minimum essential coverage or pay a fee. This is true regardless of your employment status.

There are several exemptions from the fee that may apply to people who have no income or very low incomes. See the full list of exemptions. If you have an exemption, you don’t need to pay the fee for being uncovered."

To see if you qualify for any of the hardship exemptions please use this link:  https://turbotax.intuit.com/health-care/exemptions/#!/exemption-home

For more information on your health care coverage options while unemployed use this link:  https://www.healthcare.gov/unemployed/coverage/

[jayhpaq]

This needs to change. How can you punish people who lost a job by forcing them to pay a penalty because they did not have and could not afford health care? This is not right. It's bad enough that unemployment benefits are taxed, let alone kicking someone while they are down.

[msfm2222]

thank u for saying it so well