What happens if your job doesn't have health insurance?
Asked by: Dr. Kattie Mertz III | Last update: September 18, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (31 votes)
What to do if your job doesn't provide healthcare?
For those without a health plan from their employer, the place to look is the exchange system. For most people, that means going to the Federal Healthcare.gov Health Insurance Marketplace. For others, like my old home in Colorado, or my new state Oregon, the states built their own exchange websites.
Is it mandatory to have health insurance in NM?
Starting Jan. 1, 2019, that federal tax penalty was reduced to nothing and New Mexico does not impose penalties for going without insurance. If you don't have major medical health insurance, you'll be responsible for major health care costs.
What is the penalty for employers who don't provide insurance?
The penalty for each month the employer fails to offer coverage is $2,970 divided by 12, times the number of full-time employees (minus up to 30). The employer must pay a penalty for not offering coverage that is affordable and provides minimum value.
Can I sue my employer for not providing health insurance?
It has an obligation to honor that commitment, even though the law does not require it to provide health insurance. Otherwise, an employee can sue the employer to enforce the contract.
Can I Decline My Employer's Health Insurance?
What is the penalty for not offering health insurance to employees?
A penalty of $2,970 (for 2024) per full-time employee minus the first 30 will be incurred if the employer fails to offer minimum essential coverage to 95 percent of its full-time employees and their dependents, and any full-time employee obtains coverage on the exchange.
How much does health insurance cost if not through employer?
The premium you pay depends on factors like plan type, age, and location. For individual health insurance, costs vary based on coverage level. The 2024 average benchmark premium is $477, with ACA marketplace plans showing varying deductibles and monthly premiums.
Can an employer make health insurance mandatory?
Employer mandate coverage requirements since 2016
Employers with 50 or more full-time and/or FTE employees must offer affordable/minimum value medical coverage to their full-time employees and their dependents up to the end of the month in which they turn age 26, or they may be subject to penalties.
Can a company deny you insurance?
In many states, including California, health insurance carriers can decline to issue a Group Health policy if fewer than 50-75% of employees choose to enroll. Some carriers and administrators have even stricter participation requirements.
Can I refuse health insurance from my employer and get Obamacare?
Obamacare is available to everyone, whether or not their employers offer insurance. From a practical standpoint, though, there are financial consequences to doing this. Often, an employer subsidizes part or all of their employees' coverage.
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.
Can I decline my employer's health insurance on Reddit?
Your employer can require you to accept their plan. If they do allow you to opt-out, you probably need to wait for the "open enrollment" period (typically this time of year). You will have to talk to HR. Be wary of private health insurance not sold through the marketplace, it may offer you little or no actual coverage.
Can I lose my job due to health issues?
California laws protect you when you have a medical condition that impacts your ability to work. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) prohibits employer discrimination based on actual or perceived medical conditions, including firing and other adverse employment actions.
Should I accept a job with no health benefits?
If you choose to accept a job with no benefits, you will have to manage your own “benefits.” Patrick calls this “the awareness bump.” You are responsible for not only budgeting the money, but for setting up your necessities like health insurance and paying for them on time each month.
How do I report my employer for not providing health insurance?
An employee can file an Affordable Care Act whistleblower complaint with OSHA by visiting or calling the local OSHA office or sending a written complaint to the closest OSHA office. No particular form is required and complaints may be submitted in any language.
What happens if employer doesn't offer health insurance?
If your employer doesn't offer you insurance coverage, you can fill out an application through the Marketplace. You'll find out if you qualify for: A health insurance plan with savings on your monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs based on your household size and income.
Can I sue my employer for not giving me insurance?
Yes, you may have recourse if your employer promised you vision and dental benefits upon your last contract negotiation but never enrolled you in those benefits. The specific steps you can take will depend on the terms of your employment contract and the laws in your state.
Can I ask for money instead of health insurance?
It is legal to offer employees cash in lieu of health plan benefits, but it has to be done appropriately through a cafeteria plan that includes a “cash-in-lieu” agreement. If they opt out for cash in the agreement, they will be taxed on those funds as if they were wages.
Are employers penalized for not offering health insurance?
The employer shared responsibility provision of the Affordable Care Act penalizes employers who either do not offer coverage or do not offer coverage that meets minimum value and affordability standards.
What does the Affordable Care Act do?
Under the Affordable Care Act, patients who may have been uninsured due to preexisting conditions or limited finances can secure affordable health plans through the health insurance marketplace in their state.
Do employers make you pay for health insurance?
Employees pay their monthly premiums and associated medical costs; the employer reimburses them for eligible medical expenses up to their allowance balance. Reimbursements are tax-free if their health insurance policy meets minimum essential coverage (MEC).
Which health insurance company denies the most claims?
According to the analysis, AvMed and UnitedHealthcare tied for the highest denial rate, with both companies denying about a third of in-network claims for plans sold on the Marketplace in 2023, respectively.