(a)Requirement to maintain minimum essential coverageAn applicable individual shall for each month beginning after 2013 ensure that the individual, and any dependent of the individual who is an applicable individual, is covered under minimum essential coverage for such month.
(b)Shared responsibility payment(1)In generalIf a taxpayer who is an applicable individual, or an applicable individual for whom the taxpayer is liable under paragraph (3), fails to meet the requirement of subsection (a) for 1 or more months, then, except as provided in subsection (e), there is hereby imposed on the taxpayer a penalty with respect to such failures in the amount determined under subsection (c).
(2)Inclusion with returnAny penalty imposed by this section with respect to any month shall be included with a taxpayer’s return under chapter 1 for the taxable year which includes such month.
(3)Payment of penaltyIf an individual with respect to whom a penalty is imposed by this section for any month—(A)is a dependent (as defined in section 152) of another taxpayer for the other taxpayer’s taxable year including such month, such other taxpayer shall be liable for such penalty, or
(B)files a joint return for the taxable year including such month, such individual and the spouse of such individual shall be jointly liable for such penalty.
(c) [1] Amount of penalty(1)In generalThe amount of the penalty imposed by this section on any taxpayer for any taxable year with respect to failures described in subsection (b)(1) shall be equal to the lesser of—(A)the sum of the monthly penalty amounts determined under paragraph (2) for months in the taxable year during which 1 or more such failures occurred, or
(B)an amount equal to the national average premium for qualified health plans which have a bronze level of coverage, provide coverage for the applicable family size involved, and are offered through Exchanges for plan years beginning in the calendar year with or within which the taxable year ends.
(2)Monthly penalty amountsFor purposes of paragraph (1)(A), the monthly penalty amount with respect to any taxpayer for any month during which any failure described in subsection (b)(1) occurred is an amount equal to [SUP]1[/SUP]⁄[SUB]12[/SUB] of the greater of the following amounts:(A)Flat dollar amountAn amount equal to the lesser of—(i)the sum of the applicable dollar amounts for all individuals with respect to whom such failure occurred during such month, or
(ii)300 percent of the applicable dollar amount (determined without regard to paragraph (3)(C)) for the calendar year with or within which the taxable year ends.
(B)Percentage of incomeAn amount equal to the following percentage of the excess of the taxpayer’s household income for the taxable year over the amount of gross income specified in section 6012(a)(1) with respect to the taxpayer for the taxable year:(i)1.0 percent for taxable years beginning in 2014.
(ii)2.0 percent for taxable years beginning in 2015.
(iii)Zero percent for taxable years beginning after 2015.
(3)Applicable dollar amountFor purposes of paragraph (1)—(A)In generalExcept as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the applicable dollar amount is $0.
(B)Phase inThe applicable dollar amount is $95 for 2014 and $325 for 2015.
(C)Special rule for individuals under age 18If an applicable individual has not attained the age of 18 as of the beginning of a month, the applicable dollar amount with respect to such individual for the month shall be equal to one-half of the applicable dollar amount for the calendar year in which the month occurs.
(D)Indexing of amountIn the case of any calendar year beginning after 2016, the applicable dollar amount shall be equal to $695, increased by an amount equal to—(i)$695, multiplied by
(ii)the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year, determined by substituting “calendar year 2015” for “calendar year 1992” in subparagraph (B)for “calendar year 2016” in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.If the amount of any increase under clause (i) is not a multiple of $50, such increase shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $50.
(4)Terms relating to income and familiesFor purposes of this section—(A)Family sizeThe family size involved with respect to any taxpayer shall be equal to the number of individuals for whom the taxpayer is allowed a deduction under section 151 (relating to allowance of deduction for personal exemptions) for the taxable year.
(B)Household incomeThe term “household income” means, with respect to any taxpayer for any taxable year, an amount equal to the sum of—(i)the modified adjusted gross income of the taxpayer, plus
(ii)the aggregate modified adjusted gross incomes of all other individuals who—(I)were taken into account in determining the taxpayer’s family size under paragraph (1), and
(II)were required to file a return of tax imposed by section 1 for the taxable year.
(C)Modified adjusted gross incomeThe term “modified adjusted gross income” means adjusted gross income increased by—(i)any amount excluded from gross income under section 911, and
(ii)any amount of interest received or accrued by the taxpayer during the taxable year which is exempt from tax.
(d)Applicable individualFor purposes of this section—(1)In generalThe term “applicable individual” means, with respect to any month, an individual other than an individual described in paragraph (2), (3), or (4).
(2)Religious exemptions(A)Religious conscience exemptionSuch term shall not include any individual for any month if such individual has in effect an exemption under section 1311(d)(4)(H) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which certifies that such individual is—(i)a member of a recognized religious sect or division thereof which is described in section 1402(g)(1), and
(ii)an adherent of established tenets or teachings of such sect or division as described in such section.
(B)Health care sharing ministry(i)In generalSuch term shall not include any individual for any month if such individual is a member of a health care sharing ministry for the month.
(ii)Health care sharing ministryThe term “health care sharing ministry” means an organization—(I)which is described in section 501(c)(3) and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a),
(II)members of which share a common set of ethical or religious beliefs and share medical expenses among members in accordance with those beliefs and without regard to the State in which a member resides or is employed,
(III)members of which retain membership even after they develop a medical condition,
(IV)which (or a predecessor of which) has been in existence at all times since December 31, 1999, and medical expenses of its members have been shared continuously and without interruption since at least December 31, 1999, and
(V)which conducts an annual audit which is performed by an independent certified public accounting firm in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and which is made available to the public upon request.
(3)Individuals not lawfully presentSuch term shall not include an individual for any month if for the month the individual is not a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully present in the United States.
(4)Incarcerated individualsSuch term shall not include an individual for any month if for the month the individual is incarcerated, other than incarceration pending the disposition of charges.
(e)ExemptionsNo penalty shall be imposed under subsection (a) with respect to—(1)Individuals who cannot afford coverage(A)In generalAny applicable individual for any month if the applicable individual’s required contribution (determined on an annual basis) for coverage for the month exceeds 8 percent of such individual’s household income for the taxable year described in section 1412(b)(1)(B) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. For purposes of applying this subparagraph, the taxpayer’s household income shall be increased by any exclusion from gross income for any portion of the required contribution made through a salary reduction arrangement.
(B)Required contributionFor purposes of this paragraph, the term “required contribution” means—(i)in the case of an individual eligible to purchaseminimum essential coverage consisting of coverage through an eligible-employer-sponsored plan, the portion of the annual premium which would be paid by the individual (without regard to whether paid through salary reduction or otherwise) for self-only coverage, or
(ii)in the case of an individual eligible only to purchaseminimum essential coverage described in subsection (f)(1)(C), the annual premium for the lowest cost bronze plan available in the individual market through the Exchange in the State in the rating area in which the individual resides (without regard to whether the individual purchased a qualified health plan through the Exchange), reduced by the amount of the credit allowable under section 36B for the taxable year (determined as if the individual was covered by a qualified health plan offered through the Exchange for the entire taxable year).
(C)Special rules for individuals related to employeesFor purposes of subparagraph (B)(i), if an applicable individual is eligible for minimum essential coverage through an employer by reason of a relationship to an employee, the determination under subparagraph (A) shall be made by reference to [2] required contribution of the employee.
(D)IndexingIn the case of planyears beginning in any calendar year after 2014, subparagraph (A) shall be applied by substituting for “8 percent” the percentage the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines reflects the excess of the rate of premium growth between the preceding calendar year and 2013 over the rate of income growth for such period.
(2)Taxpayers with income below filing thresholdAny applicable individual for any month during a calendar year if the individual’s household income for the taxable year described in section 1412(b)(1)(B) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is less than the amount of gross income specified in section 6012(a)(1) with respect to the taxpayer.
(3)Members of Indian tribesAny applicable individual for any month during which the individual is a member of an Indian tribe (as defined in section 45A(c)(6)).
(4)Months during short coverage gaps(A)In generalAny month the last day of which occurred during a period in which the applicable individual was not covered by minimum essential coverage for a continuous period of less than 3 months.
(B)Special rulesFor purposes of applying this paragraph—(i)the length of a continuous period shall be determined without regard to the calendar years in which months in such period occur,
(ii)if a continuous period is greater than the period allowed under subparagraph (A), no exception shall be provided under this paragraph for any month in the period, and
(iii)if there is more than 1 continuous period described in subparagraph (A) covering months in a calendar year, the exception provided by this paragraph shall only apply to months in the first of such periods.The
Secretary shall prescribe rules for the collection of the penalty imposed by this section in cases where continuous periods include months in more than 1
taxable year.
Such term shall include a grandfathered health
plan described in paragraph (1)(D) offered in a group market.
