Everyone deserves the peace of mind that comes with access to an affordable health care coverage plan. Ironically the medical industry agrees as it turns out that not having medical insurance is officially against the law and now results in heavy fees. While affordable health care coverage does exist, understanding how much money you could stand to be charged might just be the motivation you need to start finding a plan. As of January 2016, you are now required to pay a variable amount of fees on your 2016 federal incomes tax filing as part of the penalty of not being covered. Here is a list of the most common fees you stand to bear if you don’t have medical insurance.
Circumstantial fees – If you fail to get yourself covered, fees can be calculated differently depending on your living situation. This can be calculated as a percentage of either your household annual income or a pre-determined amount for each individual in your household that is not covered with insurance. Thus, lower income families with few children will not be hit as hard as their wealthier counter parts. As you file your income taxes, you’ll be required to pay a fee if you went over 3 months despite having the funds. Visit “HealthCare.gov” to estimate your particular fee.
The Fee has risen – The fee for 2016 has risen by over 100% since 2015, from 325$ per person to 695$ per person. For families with a low income, this difference could be highly significant, so it is worth it to make sure you avoid this unnecessary cost. However, if 2.5% of your income exceeds 695$, you’ll end up paying that amount instead. Thus, your income is what will decide your fee above all else.
Time counts – Fees are calculated on a month by month basis. Thus, the more months you go without health coverage of any form, the more you can expect to pay with respect to the maximum amount. It is important that you make sure each member of your family is covered as there are no exceptions to the law unless you have mitigating circumstances.
Exemptions are available for some – Those with especially low incomes or other mitigating circumstances can be eligible for exemptions. However, it is never worth it to assume that you qualify without doing the due diligence. Check with “HealthCare.gov” to find out whether you truly do qualify to not pay the fee, and to be sure you may want to speak with a representative over the phone.
Sign up ASAP – The new law has been in effect since January 31st of 2016. So if you haven’t signed up for a coverage plan yet, you best begin now before you start accruing even higher fees. Before heading to “Healthcare.gov” however, you may want to shop around for the best dental insurance plans. Combining overall health insurance and dental insurance is one fast growing method of saving big. Some private coverage plans include dental insurance as part of an all-inclusive plan. If you have children, this can be a hugely important financial move.