tax filed with no health insurance ROC

[Avia 7]

hi.i asked this question in ROC forum. but i think this question is related to this page about tax.

i filed for ROC .

i didnot know importance of having health insurance, till i filed for tax this year, the lady at the tax office asked me if i have insurance i said no.so she told me i should get one fast otherwise i have to pay fine to govt. so i finished filing tax with her, she wrote no insurance in tax. but after i finished with her, i went to the hospital as she told me and gave my details and got health insurance. now do i need to inform IRIS tax office that i have health insurance? or i will have to do it next year? please advise.

[NikLR 13,220]

You do that next year. You will have to pay a fine for the period of time you did not have health insurance in the USA for last year.

[NikLR 13,220]

This isn't related to ROC. FYI. But not having health insurance in the USA is a huge no-no. For example, I have health insurance through a self+1 plan with my husband and his job. I had an abscess in my tonsil and had to go to urgent care twice and an ENT (ear/nose/throat specialist.) Just ONE urgent care visit billed my insurance for over $720! My insurance only allows them to bill me for $150. If I didn't have insurance they likely would have lowered it a bit but all of that medical care, without any lowering would have been over $2000. It ended up being just over $720 total. So that monthly payment into health insurance, kept us from having a gigantic bill. Granted, we have the savings to cover such an occasion, but not everyone does.

(note: We have a high deductible with a Health Savings plan. We pay out of pocket, called a deductible, for a specific amount before the health insurance covers 90-100%. Preventive is always covered 100%. We either pay out of our bank account or use the HSA to pay for the health care expenses until the deductible is met.)

[Avia 7]

thanks yes i learn now insurance is very important. so who will i pay the fine to? is it iris?

[NikLR 13,220]

IRS, yes. They will invoice you.

[Avia 7]

i came here august 2014 i didnt work as my husband wanted me as housewife and do house work.i was doing housework and husband passed away suddenly. then i look for job but its difficult with no education. i pay agency money like 150 dollars but they want good english speaking and lot of work experience i do not have.they keep telling wait..i stay jobless for long time and now doing part time but pay is very less. do you know how much fine i have to pay to the govt for no insurance?

[Avia 7]

i do not like to take help from govt but right now things little tough. i want to study. i have enroll for ged class.i want to study nursing.then i will get good job with insurance and not take help from govt like insurance. i will not depend on anybodys. i hope i dont have to pay too much fine.thank you for response.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Depending on your income you may qualify for an exemption. My husband did last year.

[NikLR 13,220]

The fine, as noted, depends on income and also you may qualify for exemption. You will have to wait for the letter from the IRS to tell you what to do. I cannot even GUESS what it may or may not be.