Am I required to pay the health care insurance penalty for my non-child dependents (my parent(s)) and if so, would exemptions they qualify for help me avoid the penalty?

[KrisD]

Dependents do not give the taxpayer claiming them any exemption amounts. That was eliminated this year through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. 

Are the parents covered under medicare? If so, that counts as health coverage. 

[johnmv]

Thank you very much for your response. My family has not had any form of health insurance and little to no income for several years (also, for background, they are not senior citizens but there are mitigating factors (illnesses and criminal history) that have made obtaining employment/health insurance difficult for them). I have paid their rent and other living expenses since 2017 but I was also penalized on my 2017 tax return for not providing them with health insurance as well. Can I amend my 2017 tax return to apply an exemption if any might had been available? Thanks again!