Procrastination has a price. For Americans who have gone without “minimum essential health coverage” as defined by Obamacare, fines are imminent.
But there is a last-minute escape hatch opening in two weeks: the ACA open enrollment period beginning November 15. And even if you did sign up for coverage this year, you will need to renew your current health plan – or choose a new one – before the end of the year in order to continue your coverage in 2015.
While the Affordable Care Act calls the penalty for not having health insurance coverage a “fee,” most people would probably consider it a fine. Especially when you file your 2014 income tax return next year looking forward to a tax refund. If you didn’t have coverage in place this year, that’s when you’ll get bit. The IRS can deduct the “fee” from your tax refund.
And those fees are about to double – or worse. For this year, going without health coverage will cost you 1% of your annual household income that is above the tax filing threshold for your filing status. The maximum penalty is the national average premium for a bronze plan; the IRS says that’s almost $2,500 for an individual and over $12,000 for a family with five or more members. Or, the fine may be based on a flat dollar amount of $95 per person for the year ($47.50 per child under 18). The maximum penalty per family using this method is $285.