Ask Our Specialists

As a green card holder, you are eligible for domestic insurance. You would need to look into plans available through the Health Exchange (Healthcare.gov). However, Open enrollment has passed and unless you qualify for a special election period, you would not be able to obtain coverage until next year or coverage beginning Jan. 1 ,2017. If you are not able to obtain coverage through the Healthcare Exchange, you could purchase a Short term domestic plan. I am attaching a link with the plans available in Idaho. Please be advised however, that these short term domestic plans do not cover pre-existing conditions or preventative care, therefore they are not ACA compliant. If you do not carry compliant insurance, you will have to pay a penalty assessed when filing your 2016 taxes. /short-term-health-insurance/ Please let us know if you have any additional questions.

So you are telling me that open enrollment has past, so I am unable to get insurance through the Health Exchange, and the short term domestic plans are not compliant, therefore I will be charged when doing taxes next year. How does that make sense? That basically gives me no options? Please explain further and tell me what viable options I have to not be charged for taxes.

You will first want to go through the healthcare.gov website to see if you qualify for the special enrollment. Usually, when you are employed the employer offers insurance. If they do not, then you are expected to purchase insurance and yes, if you do not there could be tax penalties. We are not tax professionals so do not know the details of when this penalty is imposed or if there are exceptions to this. We just want to offer you the options available to you. If you need additional assistance please feel free to contact our office