Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois

 

November 1, 2013

Legislative Update
Obama Administration Issues Guidance on Individual Mandate Deadline

The Obama administration issued guidance this week that allows individuals until March 31, 2014, to enroll in coverage through Get Covered Illinois, the Official Health Marketplace of Illinois, without having to pay the individual shared responsibility tax penalty.

Under the Affordable Care Act, beginning Jan. 1, 2014, most U.S. citizens and legal residents are required to have health care coverage or may face a tax penalty.

However, before this recent guidance, a situation might have arisen where some individuals who enrolled during the open enrollment period would have been subject to the individual shared responsibility tax penalty. Under the new guidance, the government will consider anyone who enrolls via the Marketplace by March 31, 2014, as having met the individual mandate requirement for 2014.

This communication is intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, does not constitute, and cannot be relied upon as legal, tax or compliance advice. The information contained in this communication is subject to change based on future regulation and guidance.

 


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A Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company,
an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.