Another Obamacare exemption revealed

June 29, 2013

By Katy Grimes

In February, the Treasury Department’s summary was released announcing who won’t have to pay a fine if they refuse to buy federal Obamacare insurance.

This week they added some exemptions.  We are up to 9 now.

“The Obama administration on Wednesday broadened an exemption for American Indians from the new health care law’s requirement that virtually every U.S. resident has health insurance starting next year,” the Washington Post reported.

Who will really pay?

I’ve written extensively about Obamacare and the many exemptions.

It is important to note that the Congressional Budget Office projects only 2 percent of Americans will actually pay the “mandatory” fine for non-participation.

According to the IRS, “Certain individuals who are not required to file an income tax return but who technically fall outside the statutory exemption for those with household income below the filing threshold.”

“HHS regulations also provide that the hardship exemption will be available on a case-by-case basis for individuals who face other unexpected personal or financial circumstances that prevent them from obtaining coverage.”

“The shared responsibility payment (IRS penalty) should not apply to any taxpayer for whom coverage is unaffordable, who has other good cause for going without coverage, or who goes without coverage for only a short time.”

IRS allowable exemptions

The proposed regulations also catalog the statute’s nine categories of individuals who are exempt from the shared responsibility payment:

* Individuals who cannot afford coverage;

* Taxpayers with income below the federal filing threshold;

* Hardship;

* Individuals who experience short coverage gaps;

* Religious conscience;

* Members of a health-care sharing ministry;

* Incarcerated individuals; and

* Individuals who are not lawfully present.

and now…

* Native American Indians.

These exemptions leave only the working middle class, and those who pay income tax to pick up the tab.

Who doesn’t pay?

The half of Americans who do not pay federal income taxes will not be required to pay the “mandatory” IRS fine if they do not buy government health insurance.

Illegal aliens will not be fined.

And just in case anyone else was missed in the exemption list, the last paragraph was added to cover any other vulnerable group:

“The HHS regulations also provide that the hardship exemption will be available on a case-by-case basis for individuals who face other unexpected personal or financial circumstances that prevent them from obtaining coverage.”