Which Exemption to Apply For: Unable to Afford Coverage or Hardship (Ineligible for Medicaid)?
I’ve been reading about exemptions, and I’ve determined that I need to apply for one. It seems to me, however, that I could likely qualify for two: the exemption for those unable to afford coverage (if you live in a state using healthcare.gov), and the hardship exemption for those determined ineligible for Medicaid because their state didn’t expand eligibility for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
How do I know which exemption I should apply for if both seem appropriate? Would both of these exemptions result in someone being eligible for catastrophic insurance?
As a side note, I am 29 years old, unemployed, unmarried, and I have no children. Thank you in advance for any information you can provide!
Answer
The Affordability exemption lasts all year and exempts you from the fee. The ineligible due to Medicaid exemption does too. Hardship exemptions (the Medicaid one is a hardship exemption) and Affordability exemptions both qualify you for catastrophic coverage (however, cost assistance will be cheaper. Consider getting a subsidized Marketplace plan if you make at least 100% of the Federal Poverty Level).
Both exemptions require proof, but are easy to prove. Affordability is proved with income, Medicaid eligibility requires a letter of rejection. You should apply for both if you have the supporting documents. Just make sure you do so early, so you can get your Electronic Confirmation Number well before you have to file the Exemptions form. Learn more about the Exemption form and other exemptions here.
Hope that helps answer your question.