Do Californians need health insurance?
Asked by: Keaton Boyer | Last update: May 8, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (15 votes)
Does California require people to have health insurance?
Beginning January 1, 2020, California residents must either: Have qualifying health insurance coverage. Obtain an exemption from the requirement to have coverage. Pay a penalty when they file their state tax return.
Does California penalize for no health insurance?
There is a tax penalty for not having health insurance in California. The insurance penalty, also called the uninsured health care penalty or uninsured tax penalty, is a fee you must pay if you do not have a qualifying health insurance plan for a tax year.
Can you go without health insurance in California?
The individual mandate means that Californians must either have qualifying health insurance, or pay a penalty when filing their state tax return unless they qualify for an exemption. How much? For tax year 2023, the penalty will cost at least $900 per adult and $450 per dependent child under 18 in your household.
Is insurance mandatory in California?
Insurance (also referred to as financial responsibility) is required on all vehicles operated or parked on California roads. You must carry evidence of insurance in your vehicle at all times and it must be provided when: Requested by law enforcement.
Covered California | How low-income Californians can get health insurance.
Which state does not require health insurance?
New Jersey, California, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia require their residents to have health insurance coverage or face penalties. Vermont recommends that residents have coverage, but there's no noncompliance penalty.
Is not having insurance illegal in California?
Driving without insurance is illegal. Also, you must have liability coverage to register your car. Your insurance company tells the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if you buy auto insurance or if you stop paying your premium.
Can you legally not have health insurance?
Most people in California are required to have health coverage. If you do not have health coverage you may have to pay a tax penalty. This is called the “individual mandate.”
What happens if I go to the hospital without insurance in California?
Uninsured patients: California law now requires hospitals to provide free or discounted care to uninsured patients who earn up to 400% of the federal poverty level. You may qualify if you earn $4,530 per month for one person or up to $9,250 per month for a family of four in 2022.
Can I get free Medi-Cal insurance in California?
Medi-Cal offers free or low-cost health coverage for Californians who meet eligibility requirements, regardless of immigration status.
What is the cheapest health insurance in California?
Affordable health insurance in California for 2025
L.A. Care has the cheapest rates in California, and it's the cheapest health insurance company for about a quarter of the people in California. But you can only get L.A. Care if you live in Los Angeles County.
Does the IRS fine you for not having health insurance?
The fee for not having health insurance (sometimes called the "Shared Responsibility Payment" or "mandate”) ended in 2018. This means you no longer pay a tax penalty for not having health coverage.
Can you be denied Medi-Cal treatment without insurance?
Because of EMTALA, you can't be denied a medical screening exam or treatment for an emergency medical condition based on: If you have health insurance or not. If you can pay for treatment.
Why is California health insurance so expensive?
That area is one of the most expensive health care markets in the country. Experts have blamed geographic isolation and lack of market competition in the area for its high health care costs.
Does having health insurance affect your tax return?
Whether you get financial help or not, health coverage is part of filing your taxes. Unless you report that you had health coverage, you may have to pay a state tax penalty. If you received federal or state financial help, you'll report that as well.
Can I cancel Covered California anytime?
You can cancel your Covered California enrollment at any time. Just make sure you have other health insurance lined up or else you may not be able to get it back again until next year's open enrollment.
Can you live in California without health insurance?
Starting in 2020, California residents must either: Have qualifying health insurance coverage, or. Pay a penalty when filing a state tax return, or. Get an exemption from the requirement to have coverage.
How to avoid California health insurance penalty?
You can get an exemption so that you won't have to pay a penalty for not having qualifying health insurance. Some exemptions require an exemption application through Covered California. Other exemptions do not require an application: Instead, you can claim them when you file your state tax return.
Can hospitals refuse uninsured patients?
Q: In the United States (specifically California), can a hospital refuse treatment based on inability to pay? A: In the US, a hospital with an emergency department (ED) is required to give every patient a medical screening regardless of ability to pay.
Can I go to the doctor without insurance?
Even if you don't have health insurance, you can still see a doctor and receive medical treatment—preventive care, acute care, urgent care, or emergency care. The difficult part is to find services that are affordable.
How much does Covered California cost per month?
Apply for health insurance by Jan. 31 — and pay as little as $10 per month if you qualify. How many need coverage? Your Estimate $63 per month for a Silver plan. Bronze as low as $0.
What states offer free health insurance?
What to do if you don't have health insurance in California?
If you do not have health insurance, Covered California can help you determine if you qualify for Medi-Cal or federal subsidies, and can provide you with coverage options and plan costs.
What insurance is mandatory in California?
Under California law, you must carry two types of liability coverage (bodily injury and property damage) with minimum coverage limits. Through December 31st, 2024, California drivers must carry insurance with minimum limits of 15/30/5, or: $15,000 for bodily injury or death per person.
How much is the penalty for not having insurance in CA?
In general, the penalty for not having health insurance in California is either 2.5 percent of the household's annual income or $800 per adult and $400 per child, whichever of these two numbers is greater.