ObamaCare Fee 2018

The Individual Mandate Fee for 2018: Not Having Health Insurance in 2018

The fee for not having health insurance under the Affordable Care Act is unchanged from 2016. It is a flat fee of $695 per adult and $347.50 per child (up to $2,085 for a family), or 2.5% of household income (whichever is greater).

“For 2016 the annual fee for not having insurance was $695 per adult and $347.50 per child (up to $2,085 for a family), or 2.5% of household income above the tax return filing threshold for your filing status – whichever is greater.”

In both cases, the fee cannot exceed the total yearly premium for the national average price of a Bronze plan sold through the Marketplace.

UPDATE: Initially, this fee was “set to be adjusted for inflation for 2017.” However, it does not seem that the fee has been adjusted upward in the last two years. The fee will likely stay as is for the time being (we will update the site with changes, but make sure to check the IRS’s website for the latest information).

More key facts for understanding the individual mandate penalty:

• The proper name for “the fee” is the individual shared responsibility payment, although it is sometimes called “the individual mandate penalty.”
• The fee is monthly. You will pay 1/12 of the total fee for each full month in which a family member went without coverage or an exemption.
• It is the responsibility of the head of household to make sure all dependents have coverage, as even one dependent without coverage can cause the fee to be incurred.
• If you take tax credits, you’ll need to file form 8962, and if you miss even one full month you’ll need to file the exemption form 8965.
• Form 8965 contains the worksheet for calculating the shared responsibility payment. If you have to pay the fee, make sure to claim any exemptions you can.

Learn more about the fee at HealthCare.gov’s If you don’t have health insurance: How much you’ll pay.