In what states is health insurance mandatory?
Asked by: Ramona Parker IV | Last update: October 10, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (73 votes)
- California.
- D.C.
- Massachusetts.
- New Jersey.
- Rhode Island.
- Vermont (but there's currently no financial penalty attached to the mandate)
How many states have mandatory health insurance?
New Jersey, California, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia require their residents to have health insurance coverage or face penalties.
Are you legally required to have health insurance in the US?
Key Takeaways
Health insurance coverage is no longer mandatory at the federal level, as of Jan. 1, 2019. Some states still require you to have health insurance coverage to avoid a tax penalty.
What states require you to have insurance?
Car insurance is mandatory in almost every state. State minimums and coverage types vary, but nearly all states that mandate insurance require liability coverage for property damage and bodily injury. The sole exception is Florida, which only requires liability coverage for property damage, in addition to PIP coverage.
Does the IRS penalize 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. If you don't have health coverage, you don't need an exemption to avoid paying a tax penalty.
Which states require you to have health insurance?
Is it illegal to not have health insurance in Florida?
Currently, there are no legal penalties or fines imposed by the state of Florida for not having health insurance. However, it's important to note that the federal ACA individual mandate, which required individuals to have health insurance or face a penalty, was effectively eliminated in 2019.
What is the penalty in California for no health insurance?
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.
What states don't require insurance?
New Hampshire and Virginia are the only states that do not require auto insurance. However, if you choose not to purchase car insurance in these states, you would still be held liable for any property damage or bodily injury caused by their vehicle.
Is it illegal to not have health insurance in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts law requires that all residents have health insurance, and you may face tax penalties if you are uninsured or your insurance coverage does not meet state coverage standards.
Is there still an individual mandate for health insurance?
Congress eliminated the federal tax penalty for not having health insurance, effective January 1, 2019. While there is no longer a federal tax penalty for being uninsured, some states (CA, MA, NJ, and RI) and DC have enacted individual mandates and may apply a state tax penalty if you lack health coverage for the year.
Can you live in USA without health insurance?
Health insurance is not mandatory at the federal level for adults. While there is no federal requirement for adults to have health insurance, it's essential to consider the importance of having coverage to protect your health and finances in the event of unexpected medical expenses.
Is health insurance mandatory for visitors to USA?
American Visitors Insurance it not required for visitors to enter the country, however, when you do travel outside of your home country, it's advised to get insurance as your home country insurance may offer limited to no coverage once you leave your home country.
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.”
Are you forced to have health insurance in the US?
This requirement was known as the individual mandate. But in 2017, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. While having health insurance was still required, the penalty was reduced to zero dollars. This took effect in 2019.
What states offer free health insurance?
What happens if you don't pay 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.
Is health insurance mandatory in California?
In fact, 2020 marked the first year that Californians were required by state law to have health insurance. This law is referred to as the individual mandate because it means that all individuals in California are mandated to have health coverage. Here's what you need to know about the individual mandate.
Can I go to the hospital without insurance in Massachusetts?
If you qualify for Health Safety Net and have no insurance.
If you do not have any other insurance, and have an income between 150.1% to 300% FPL, you may have an HSN deductible amount to the hospital or health center where you receive health services.
Is it mandatory to have health insurance in New York?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires almost every individual and each of his or her dependents to have health insurance coverage.
Do all states require health insurance?
Some states (CA, MA, NJ, and RI) and DC have adopted individual mandates with state tax penalties for not having health insurance. One state (VT) also has an individual mandate but does not impose a tax penalty for not having coverage. Check with your tax advisor or state insurance department for more information.
What states don't have income tax?
Eight U.S. states currently have no state income tax whatsoever: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. New Hampshire, the ninth state on our list, only taxes interest and dividend income.
Do all 50 states require insurance?
Auto liability insurance is mandatory in 49 states and the District of Columbia. New Hampshire, the only state that does not require auto liability insurance, requires drivers to show that they are able to provide sufficient funds in the case of an at-fault accident (i.e., financial responsibility).
Can you go to jail if you don't have health insurance?
So, is it illegal to not have health insurance since there is no longer a fine? On a federal level, having health insurance is no longer a legal requirement. However, a handful of states in the U.S. require citizens to obtain coverage or pay a tax penalty.
Do you have to have health insurance in Texas?
Out-of-pocket medical expenses are impossible for the average Texan to pay. You may wonder if you must have insurance to get medical care. The surprising answer is no — there's another option. Direct primary care is a new way to saccess comprehensive care without insurance.