Which states still require you to have health insurance coverage to avoid a tax penalty?

Asked by: Jules Ruecker  |  Last update: November 6, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (41 votes)

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.

Does the IRS still charge a penalty for no health insurance?

In 2023, you are no longer required to pay a federal tax penalty for remaining uninsured. However, that may not apply to you if you live in a specific state. For those in California, you are still required to have health insurance and could be subject to a fee should you remain uninsured.

How to avoid health insurance penalties?

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.

Can I have health insurance in one state and live in another?

It's very important to report moves out of state immediately so you can enroll in a new plan without a break in coverage — and avoid paying for coverage that doesn't apply in your new state. When you move out of state, you'll need to start a new Marketplace application and enroll in a plan in your new state.

Does the IRS require you to have health insurance?

Individuals & Families

The law requires you and your dependents to have health care coverage. If you purchased coverage from the Health Insurance Marketplace, you may be eligible for the Premium Tax Credit.

The End of the Health Insurance Penalty: What it Means for You

15 related questions found

What states penalty for no 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.

How can I avoid paying back my premium tax credit?

Report any changes in your income during the year to the Marketplace, so your credit can be adjusted and you can avoid any significant repayments at the end of the year.

How do snowbirds get health insurance?

Some insurers offer Advantage plans specifically designed for snowbirds. Medicare Cost Plans work well for snowbirds, but aren't available in most states. Original Medicare will cover you anywhere in the nation, but make sure your doctors and hospitals are participating providers with Medicare.

Can you have Medicaid in one state and live in another?

Can Medicaid Benefits be Transferred from State-to-State? Formally, one cannot transfer Medicaid from state-to-state. However, with careful planning one can gain eligibility in their new state without a lapse in benefits. The US federal government establishes parameters for the Medicaid program.

Can you have life insurance in one state and live in another?

Whole life insurance policies are primarily portable. This means they can usually be transferred to another state without any issues. However, when it comes to taxes and regulation, there might be some changes involved. This is because the state mainly governs life insurance policies, and every state has policies.

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.

How to avoid California tax underpayment penalty?

As long as you've paid up your estimated tax payments to equal either 90% of the tax you owe for the current year ~or~ 100% of your tax bill from last year (whichever is less), you're in the clear.

What happens if you lie about not having health insurance on taxes?

Fraud or Other Charges

Depending on the outcome of your audit, you may be charged with either negligence or fraud as a civil penalty. The IRS may also choose to prosecute you on criminal charges if the amounts are large enough. These cases take years to process, and can result in jail time and other hefty fines.

How to avoid California health insurance penalty?

If you want to avoid the California insurance penalty, you must enroll in a qualified health plan or qualify for an exemption.

Does Texas penalize for no 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.

Is it illegal to not have health insurance in Colorado?

Starting with the 2019 tax year, there is no requirement for individuals to have a Qualified Health Plan or pay a penalty for not having a plan.

Can I have health insurance in two states?

Multi-State Plan options are offered, along with other approved plans, on the Health Insurance Marketplace. The Marketplace is a one-stop shop where you can compare prices on health plans, buy coverage, and obtain Federal subsidies if you qualify for them.

Which state has the best Medicaid program?

The top states—ranked from 1 to 10—are Massachusetts, Nebraska, Vermont, Alaska, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Minnesota, New York, Washington, and New Hampshire.

Does retirement count as income for Medicaid?

In every state except one, these retirement accounts are counted toward the asset limit for eligibility. Although it should be noted that California does not have an asset limit, so the value of retirement accounts will not impact California residents applying for Medi-Cal (California Medicaid).

Can you get health insurance in a state you don't live in?

As the law exists now, you can only buy health insurance in the state where you maintain your permanent address. Your insurance company may not cover you if you move states and do not report this change in address.

How do snowbirds handle prescriptions?

To avoid all the trouble of travelling with medication, many snowbirds establish a relationship with a family doctor in the U.S. or with a clinic, so that they can get their prescriptions filled while they are away. This is a simpler solution than importing your prescriptions once you are over your three month supply.

What is the easiest way to get health insurance?

There are several ways to apply for and enroll in Marketplace health coverage:
  1. Use HealthCare.gov to apply online. Fastest way to apply. ...
  2. Enroll over the phone. ...
  3. Find help in your area. ...
  4. Use a certified enrollment partner. ...
  5. Fill out and mail in a paper application.

What disqualifies you from the premium tax credit?

For tax years other than 2021 and 2022, if your household income on your tax return is more than 400 percent of the federal poverty line for your family size, you are not allowed a premium tax credit and will have to repay all of the advance credit payments made on behalf of you and your tax family members.

What happens if I underestimate my income for Obamacare in 2024?

For the 2024 tax year, if you underestimated your income and received a larger tax credit than you were eligible for, you must repay the difference between the amount of premium tax credit you received and the amount you were eligible for.

What is a tax clawback?

A tax clawback agreement is an arrangement whereby the tax benefits received from a given venture are reinvested into that venture to cover cash shortages. A tax clawback is just one of many similar arrangements that cover various distributions such as profits, dividends, or even stock distributions.