US expats and Obamacare

[lucybelle 453]

I'm trying to figure out if I need to sign up for Obamacare. I know you don't have to if you're a resident in a foreign country, but I'm still in the "process" of being approved (applied 1.5 years ago, and sort of doubt I'll be approved anytime soon). I've been in Costa Rica living and working for over 2 years and filed my taxes to the USA but didn't have to pay any because I qualified for "living" abroad (out of the country for more than 330 days/year). I also don't have to (and can't) pay taxes here in CR since I haven't been approved for residency yet.

Do any US expats have any insight? I guess I could just not sign up and pay the $95 "penalty" which would be fine, but I'd be pissed if I had to pay for both my husband (foreigner) and me for the next year. Since he's not a resident yet (still waiting for that cursed NOA2...)

I've been reading but I just can't find the answers I'm looking for. Any info would be appreciated!

[Darnell 8,478]

I say sign up again via healthcare.gov after you have repatriated yerself,

and not worry about any penalty fees whilst yer out of the USA as an expat.

[lucybelle 453]

Thanks!

[Protocol417 161]

Also, if you want something straight from the horse's mouth, there is a live chat function at the website Darnell gave you. I had all my questions related to my fiance (who will be moving over on a K-1 visa just before the mandate starts, but won't be starting work until well after) answered at like 7pm on a Saturday night. It was quite handy.

[lucybelle 453]

Awesome! I'll definitely check that out, thanks!!!

[Jilly30 16]

I'm freaking out about this as the deadline is approaching! I have been in India for a year, but unfortunately can't qualify as a non-resident of the US because I haven't been absent 330 days or more in a calendar or fiscal year. I've been gone for 358 consecutive days but it spans 2 seperate calendar years as I arrived in April 2013 and will leave April 2014. This sucks. I hate ObamaCare.

[Jeff&Julia 1]

If you stay the f away from the US for 330 days out of 365, then you have no need to enroll in insurance and will not be liable for a tax penalty, just as you will also not be liable to pay taxes on up to. $97,000 of your income. If you decide to hang out in the US to spend time with mama, then watch out, cause you'll owe Uncle Sam full taxes plus the obamacare penalty.

[Jeff&Julia 1]

By the way, Jilly, you should also qualify for the exemption. The 330 don't have to fit completely within an "official" year, just as long as you can find, say, a span of 365 continuous days where you are not in the US for at least 330, then you are exempt, or at least will be partially exempt.

Anyway, technically no one is exempt yet, because no US citizen can say he's definitely an expat yet for 2014, because 2014 isn't over yet. This penalty is for taxes we will be filing next year. You can gamble and guess that you will definitely not return to the US for more than 35 days between jan 1 and dec 1 of this year. If this comes true, then you will be exempt. If you end up moving back before then, then you will have to pay the penalty, or perhaps partial penalty if you can prove 330 days out of 365 out of the US during some span between 2013 to 2014.