Who qualifies for a hardship exemption?

The following are circumstances that affect consumers' ability to purchase health insurance coverage and qualify them for a hardship exemption and exempt from the ACA penalty.

1. Becomes homeless

2. Has been evicted, or is facing eviction or foreclosure

3. Has received a shut-off notice from a gas, water, or electric company

4. Recently experienced domestic violence

5. Recently experienced the death of a close family member

6. Recently experienced a fire, flood, or other natural or human-caused disaster resulting in substantial damage to individual property

7. Filed for bankruptcy

8. Incurred medical expenses that resulted in substantial debt

9. Experienced unexpected increases in necessary expenses due to caring for an ill, disabled, or aging family member

10. Expects to claim a child as a tax dependent who has been denied coverage in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and another person is required by court order to give medical support to the child; In this case, the individual would not have to make a payment for the child

11. As a result of an eligibility appeals decision, is determined eligible for enrollment in a qualified health plan (QHP) through the Marketplace, advance payments of the premium tax credit, and/or cost-sharing reductions for a period of time during which he or she was not enrolled in a QHP through a Marketplace

12. Was determined ineligible for Medicaid because his or her state did not expand eligibility for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act

13. Experiences another hardship in obtaining health insurance