How many months can you go without health insurance in California?
Asked by: Dorthy Green | Last update: September 22, 2025Score: 5/5 (57 votes)
What is the penalty for not having health insurance in California per month?
California residents who do not have coverage for themselves and their dependents for each month in 2024, and who do not meet an exemption, will pay a penalty of $900 per adult or more and $450 per dependent child, or 2.5% of their gross income over the filing threshold for their filing status, whichever is higher.
What happens if I don't have health insurance in CA?
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.
Does the IRS still charge a penalty for no health insurance?
If you had no health coverage
If you didn't have coverage during 2024, the fee no longer applies. This means you don't need an exemption in order to avoid the penalty.
What is a short coverage gap in California?
If you were uninsured for a short period of time, you may qualify for an exemption from the requirement to have health coverage. What is a “Short Gap” in Coverage? A “short gap” means you were uninsured for a period of less than three consecutive months during the year.
My Husband Doesn't Believe In Health Insurance
What happens if I let my health insurance lapse?
A lapse of the policy means termination of health insurance coverage. If the health insurance policy lapses, the available coverage under the plan comes to an end. In case of a claim in a lapsed policy, the insurance company does not pay a single penny as the cover has stopped.
What if I can't afford Covered California?
If you or anyone in your tax household has offers of health coverage from a job or through Covered California that you cannot afford, you can apply for an affordability hardship exemption.
How to avoid California health insurance penalty?
Make sure you have health care coverage
To avoid a penalty, you need minimum essential coverage (MEC) for each month of the year for: Yourself. Your spouse or domestic partner. Your dependents.
How much do you have to pay irs if you don t have health insurance?
The Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA) repealed the penalty (made the penalty amount $0) starting with tax year 2019. But you may wonder, “Do I need health insurance to file taxes after the ACA penalty was repealed?” The answer is no. You no longer will be penalized for not having health insurance.
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.
How much do you have to make to get free health insurance in California?
Who is eligible? Qualify for Medi-Cal if your income is up to 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for adults, and up to 266 percent FPL for children. Check Shop and Compare to see if you qualify.
Can you legally not have health insurance?
As of 2020, California residents must have MEC for the entire calendar year or pay a penalty when filing their income tax return. This mandate applies to each resident, including their spouse (or domestic partner) and any claimed dependents. If you qualify, you can claim an exemption to the penalty on your tax return.
How many days can you go without health insurance in California?
As a California resident, you should carry insurance throughout the year with no gaps in coverage of 90 days or more. Otherwise, you may face a tax penalty when you file your tax return. There are some exemptions to California's penalty, which we'll discuss later.
What happens if I don't pay my monthly health insurance?
If you miss a monthly premium payment
Your health insurance company could end your coverage if you fall behind on your monthly premiums. A short period after your monthly health insurance payment is due to pay all owed premiums to avoid losing coverage.
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.
What is the penalty for not having health insurance in California in 2024?
The penalty for not having coverage the entire year will be at least $900 per adult and $450 per dependent child under 18 in the household when you file your 2023 state income tax return in 2024. A family of four that goes uninsured for the whole year would face a penalty of at least $2,700.
Is there still an IRS penalty for not having health insurance?
Exemptions from the requirement to have 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 I get Obamacare if I have no income?
There is no income limit. To be eligible to enroll in health coverage through the Marketplace, you: Must live in the United States. Must be a U.S. citizen or national (or be lawfully present).
Can I cancel my health insurance at any time in California?
Unlike many other types of insurance, the California health plan contracts are month to month. You are able to cancel your health policy month to month for any reason at all. These policies are guaranteed renewable which means that you continue the policy until you turn age 65 (which is when Medicare kicks in).
What is a financial hardship in California tax?
Some of California's state tax-collecting agencies also have financial hardship programs. The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) lets taxpayers apply for hardship status if they cannot reasonably pay their tax debt after covering basic expenses.
Who is not eligible for Covered California?
Who is Not Eligible for Covered California? If you are not lawfully present in California, you are not eligible for a Covered California plan. However, you can still apply through Covered California to find out if you are eligible for Medi-Cal or to find coverage for family members who are lawfully present.
What is the maximum income to qualify for Medi-Cal?
Most single individuals will qualify for Medi-Cal if there income is under $1,676 per month. Most couples will qualify if their income is under $2,267 per month. If you have disabilities, your income can be slightly higher. You can qualify for Medi-Cal even if you have assets.