The individual shared responsibility provision requires you and each member of your family to have basic health coverage – also known as minimum essential coverage – qualify for a health coverage exemption, or make an individual shared responsibility payment for months without coverage or an exemption when you file your federal income tax return.

Many people already have minimum essential coverage. If you do, you'll simply report your coverage when you file your 2016 tax return in 2017. If you and your family members all had minimum essential coverage for each month of the tax year, you will indicate this on your tax return by checking a box on Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ. No further action is required.

If you do have health coverage, you’ll receive one or more forms early next year about the health care coverage that you had or were offered during 2016. You should not attach any of these forms to your tax return but should keep them with your tax records.



Here are some examples of coverage that qualify as minimum essential coverage:

Employer-sponsored coverage
  • Group health insurance coverage for employees under
    • a governmental plan such as the Federal Employees Health Benefit program
    • a plan or coverage offered in the small or large group market within a state
    • a grandfathered health plan offered in a group market
  • Self-insured group health plan for employees
  • COBRA coverage
  • Retiree coverage
Individual health coverage:
  • Health insurance you purchase directly from an insurance company
  • Health insurance you purchase through the Health Insurance Marketplace
  • Health insurance provided through a student health plan
Coverage under government-sponsored programs:
  • Medicare Part A coverage
  • Medicare Advantage plans
  • Most Medicaid coverage
  • Children’s Health Insurance Program, also known as CHIP
  • Most types of TRICARE coverage
  • Comprehensive health care programs offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Department of Defense Non-appropriated Fund Health Benefits Program
  • Refugee Medical Assistance
U.S. citizens, who are residents of a foreign country for an entire year, and residents of U.S. territories, are considered to have minimum essential coverage for the year.

For a list of the types of coverage that qualify as minimum essential coverage and information on those that do not qualify – as well as information on certain coverage that may provide limited benefits – visit the MEC page on IRS.gov/aca.

If you need health coverage, visit HealthCare.gov to learn about health insurance options that are available for you and your family, how to purchase health insurance, and how you might qualify to get financial assistance with the cost of insurance.

Image Source - https://www.flickr.com/photos/pictures-of-money/

Comments (2)

Sean Bryant

Sean is a graduate of the University of Iowa where he received a Bachelor's of Arts degree in economics. After beginning his career in banking, he found his love for marketing. Before arriving at ATBS in 2014 he spent time working for two different technology startups as well as his own freelance marketing company.

Read These Next...

BUSINESS Smart

Chasing Money, Getting Paid!

November 10, 2023

BUSINESS Smart

Filing a Tax Extension

April 03, 2017

BUSINESS Smart

 
 

Linda, I believe what you mean is many owner operators qualify for govt sponsored subsidies...that are, in turn, applied to the health insurance plan they purchase. Subsides(premium discounts) are based off an owner operators AGI and NOT their gross income. Many qualify, but many also don't realize it.
Our insurance platform (Truckers Insurance Exchange) works with owner operators and helps them qualify for subsidies(if applicable) and provides enrollment support. As you're aware, the next ACA enrollment window begins 11/1/16 - 1/31/17 and this year over 2 million individuals will need their plans shopped.

September 26, 2016 7:56:29 AM

Sean many truck drivers qualify for government sponsored insurance as it uses Adjusted Gross Income or AGI. It is helpful to use someone to assist you that understands the AGI of an owner operator to qualify.

September 25, 2016 5:48:24 AM