Penalty

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A payment (“fee,” “fine,” “individual mandate”) you make when you file taxes if you don’t have health insurance that counts as qualifying health coverage for plan years 2018 and earlier. Starting with the 2019 plan year (for which you’ll file taxes in April 2020), the penalty no longer applies.

Related Articles:
  • Glossary: Exemption
    Granted based on certain hardships and life events, health coverage or financial status, membership in some groups, and other circumstances. For plan years through 2018, most people must have qualifying health insurance or pay a fee (sometimes called the “Shared Responsibility Payment,” “mandate,” or “penalty”) unless they qualify for a health coverage exemption.
  • Glossary: Fee
    A payment (“penalty,” “fine,” “individual mandate”) you make when you file federal taxes if you don’t have health insurance that counts as qualifying health coverage for plan years 2018 and earlier. Starting with the 2019 plan year (for which you’ll file taxes in April 2020), the fee no longer applies.
  • Glossary: Qualifying Health Coverage
    Any health insurance that meets the Affordable Care Act requirement for coverage. If you have qualifying health coverage (or “minimum essential coverage” or “MEC”) you don’t have to pay the penalty for being uninsured through the 2018 plan year.
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