health insurance question

[Cheezees 1,514]

Inaccurate - F1s are also required to have insurance. However, coverage is usually included in your school registration and this is sufficient.

The schools I went to provide no insurance as part of registration and anyone here under 5 years was not

subject to the "legal presence" aspect of the law.

https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Exempt-Individual-Who-is-a-Student

[Sean and Kristina 24]

Yes, you are required to have health insurance. Welcome to the land of the free.

[waitoolong 6]

As a non-alien resident? I don't think so. I did not and there was no penalty. The OP is not yet a permanent resident.

It has nothing to do with residency, IRS will penalize for not having health insurance. Obamacare.

"The fee for not having coverage in 2015

If you don’t have coverage in 2015, you’ll pay the higher of these two amounts:

• 2% of your yearly household income. (Only the amount of income above the tax filing threshold, about $10,150 for an individual, is used to calculate the penalty.) The maximum penalty is the national average premium for a Bronze plan.
• $325 per person for the year ($162.50 per child under 18). The maximum penalty per family using this method is $975."

For 2016 will be more.

Edited October 12, 2015 by waitoolong

[Cheezees 1,514]

Please read my updated posts. F1 students are exempt.

[rutabaga 209]

It would be more accurate to say that F1 students can/may be exempt in that F1s who're filing taxes as NRAs are exempt as "bona fide resident of a foreign country for the tax year", but those who are filing as resident aliens for tax purposes are AFAIK not exempt and are subject to the tax penalty.

I realize that you might be able to extend your NRA for tax purposes status even after the five years by showing closer ties to a foreign country, but for a lot of people it's more beneficial to be a resident for tax purposes (less taxes) and those people need to be aware of the healthcare requirement (although, most students are required to have health insurance by the university making the point moot for a lot of them other than it might actually be cheaper to get onto a Marketplace plan than to continue to pay for the school provided plan).

[naijaboy007 1]

Please, being that the year is almost over if I get an insurance plan from my emloyer this Nov will I escape the IRS penalty? I started work july,2015

[mlh 93]

Please, being that the year is almost over if I get an insurance plan from my emloyer this Nov will I escape the IRS penalty? I started work july,2015

Depending on your employer, the plan you'll sign up for in November is usually open enrollment for 2016, so won't count for the tax year 2015.

[Boiler 45,956]

You can not have insurance for just a short time in a year and avoid the penalty.

[POA 178]

I received my EAD card and started working about 3months ago (AOS pending). However, my employee provides health insurance but I didn't subscribe to it. So am currently without health insurance. I was told that I would be penalized when I file taxes next year. Please, can somebody confirm this info for me? Do non citizens get penalized by IRS for not having health insurance?? Thanks

Yes. We paid some penalty for not having insurance in some months of the year.

[naijaboy007 1]

Well, obviously its too late to save myself from 2015 penalty.... Am just gonna face the music come tax season..tanx to everyone for the insight.

[heo luoi 206]

Its land of the free, not free loading, nor free health care. You are 'free' to pay the fine or acquire healthcare elsewhere .

Yes, you are required to have health insurance. Welcome to the land of the free.

Edited October 13, 2015 by heo luoi

[Boiler 45,956]

Actually there is free health care for some, but the OP never mentioned freeloading

[AB loves AG 54]

Well, obviously its too late to save myself from 2015 penalty.... Am just gonna face the music come tax season..tanx to everyone for the insight.

If your open enrollment is still open, you may want to still sign up so you're covered for the 2016 tax year

[heo luoi 206]

Actually there is free health care for some, but the OP never mentioned freeloading

Yea sorry didnt insinuate OP said that which wasnt mentioned as all just responded to quoted post. But the healthcare system is certainly a mess and Welcome to america, land of the free, where one is free to criticize it. Having some accountability to your healthcare could be a lot worse....and plenty of abusers. Seems like OPs question has been answered and he/she unless spouse has coverage needs their own coverage or accept the IRS penalties.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

By law all persons in the US are required to purchase health insurance or pay the penalty. You can obtain it through your employer, buy it privately, or use your state or federal exchange. If you do not purchase health insurance that is certainly fine, though if you do not, you will be charged a penalty in taxes. The lump sum for this year (depending on if it was for the whole year or not) is usually around $300+. This will increase every year. Next year, it will be about $600+. Some people feel the risk of no insurance is worth it and that the lump sum is most certainly cheaper than a monthly premium or money coming out of a paycheck. Check out the link in my signature which is regarding immigrants and the federal exchange. You are certainly qualified to obtain health insurance.

How does one go about getting an exemption ? My then fiance came on a K1 in Nov 2014 and we were charged a $95 penalty but he was not

eligible for ACA because he received his EAD only in August 2015.

We should not have to pay because he was not eligible.

He is working since 2 weeks ago but his insurance from work won't kick in

until 6 weeks from starting his job.

I am on ACA currently, being self employed (USC) and am not eligible for ACA anymore because I can get coverage through him soon correct ?

This is so confusing with the immigration status in the mix.

I think it's insane not to have health insurance and we both definitely will make sure we have it.