Types of health insurance that count as coverage
To avoid the penalty for not having insurance you must be enrolled in a plan that qualifies as minimum essential coverage.
Health plans that qualify as minimum essential coverage
If you're covered by any of the following types of plans, you're considered covered under the health care law and don't have to pay a penalty.
- Any health plan bought through the Health Insurance Marketplace
- Individual health plans bought outside the Health Insurance Marketplace, if they meet the standards for qualified health plans
- Any “grandfathered” individual insurance plan you’ve had since March 23, 2010 or earlier
- Any job-based plan, including retiree plans and COBRA coverage
- Medicare Part A or Part C (but Part B coverage by itself doesn’t qualify)
- limited coverage plans
- The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- Coverage under a parent’s plan
- Most student health plans (check with your school to see if the plan counts as minimum essential coverage)
- Health coverage for Peace Corps volunteers
- Certain types of veterans health coverage through the Department of Veterans Affairs
- Most TRICARE plans
- Department of Defense Nonappropriated Fund Health Benefits Program
- Refugee Medical Assistance
- State high-risk pools for plan or policy years that started on or before December 31, 2014 (check with your high-risk pool plan to see if it qualifies as minimum essential coverage)
See a more detailed list of types of plans that do and don’t count as minimum essential coverage from the IRS.
Health plans that don't count as coverage
Some products that help pay for medical services don't qualify as minimum essential coverage. If you have only this kind of product, you may have to pay the fee. Examples include:
- Coverage only for vision care or dental care
- Workers' compensation
- Coverage only for a specific disease or condition
- Plans that offer only discounts on medical services
More answers
- What if I have minimum essential coverage for just part of the year?
The penalty is 1/12 of the annual amount for each month you or your tax dependents don’t have coverage. If you’re uncovered only 1 or 2 months, you don’t have to pay the fee at all. Learn about the “short gap” exemption.
- What if I buy an individual plan outside the Marketplace? Will I have to pay the fee?
Any plan that meets the standards for minimum essential coverage counts under the health care law. If it does, you won't have to pay the fee.
- You can buy minimum essential coverage directly from an insurance company, from an online seller, or through an agent or broker.
- Before you buy, be sure to find out if the plan you’re interested in qualifies as minimum essential coverage.