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NJ Shared Responsibility Requirement

Claim Exemptions

Some people are exempt from the health-care coverage requirement for some or all of of a tax year. Exemptions are available for reasons such as earning income below a certain level, experiencing a short gap in coverage, having no affordable coverage options, or enduring a hardship. (See Types of Coverage Exemptions below). You must claim the exemption using the Division’s NJ Insurance Mandate Coverage Exemption Application.  If you qualify for an exemption, you can report it when you file your New Jersey Income Tax return (Resident Form NJ-1040) using Schedule NJ-HCC.

Individuals who are not required to file a New Jersey Income Tax return are automatically exempt and do not need to file just to report coverage or claim the exemption.

    This chart shows all of the coverage exemptions available, including descriptions of each and the associated code that will be used to claim the exemption on Schedule NJ-HCC of Form NJ-1040.

    Income Related
    Coverage Exemption Type Exemption Code
    Marketplace Affordability A-1

    Coverage is considered unaffordable if the premiums for the lowest cost Bronze-Level plan available to you through the Marketplace in the tax year are more than 8.05% of your household income. To estimate your household income, see income worksheet.

    The total cost to you must be more than 8.05%, accounting for any tax credit you would qualify for if you enrolled in that plan.

    If you can claim this exemption, it may apply to the dependent(s) you claim on your tax return who didn’t have coverage in the year.

    Job-Based Affordability A-2

    When considering whether to file this exemption, know that job-based health insurance is considered unaffordable in different ways, depending on how the coverage is offered:

      • For the employee: The annual premium for the lowest cost self-only plan (a plan that covers only you and not other members of your family) is more than 8.05% of household income
      • For the employee’s family: The annual premium for the lowest cost family plan is more than 8.05% of household income
      • If you can claim this exemption, it may apply to everybody on your tax return who doesn’t have coverage in the tax year. This will depend on the cost of the coverage and to whom it’s offered.
    Poverty Line Exemption A-3

    You qualify for this exemption if your household income is at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level. You will be requested to complete a Household Income worksheet and provide a Family Member Count. If your household income and family size are within these limits, you may file for this exemption:

    Family Size
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    Household Income
    $20,120.40
    $27,213.60
    $34,306.80
    $41,400.00
    $48,493.20
    $55,586.40
    $62,679.60
    $69,772.80

    For each additional person in families of more than eight, add $7,093 to determine the Federal Poverty Level.

    Health Coverage Related
    Coverage Exemption Type Exemption Code
    Short Gap in Coverage B-1
    • In any tax year, you may apply for a Short-Gap exemption if you had a lapse in coverage of less than three months.
    • New Jersey considers you covered during a month if you had coverage for even one day during that month. So if you are without insurance for two consecutive months, you must have insurance by the last day of the third month to qualify for a Short-Gap exemption.
    • If you have a gap that is three months or longer, you cannot claim this exemption for any month. The Shared Responsibility Payment will be due for every month you were without coverage.
    • If you had two or more such gaps in coverage during a year, you can claim this exemption only for the months of the first coverage gap. Example: You didn't have coverage any day in May or any day in November or December. You can claim the exemption only for May.
    • f your coverage gap crosses calendar years, the months without coverage of the second tax year aren't counted for the exemption for the first tax year. But the uncovered months from the first year are counted for the exemption for the second tax year. Example: You don't have qualifying coverage in November 2020, December 2020, and January 2021. You're not eligible for the 2021 short gap exemption for January because you didn't have coverage for three consecutive months - from November 2020 through January 2021.

    If you qualify, you can claim this exemption for the dependent(s) you claim on your tax return.

    Group Membership
    Coverage Exemption Type Exemption Code
    Religious Sect C-1

    To claim this exemption, you must be a member of a religious sect or division that:

    • Has been in existence since December 31, 1950 and is recognized by the Social Security Administration as conscientiously opposed to accepting any insurance benefits (including Social Security and Medicare). Or
    • Relies solely on a religious method of healing, and for whom the acceptance of medical health services would be inconsistent with the religious beliefs of the individual.

    If you get this exemption, you won’t have to reapply for an exemption unless you turn 21 or leave your religious sect.

    Health Care Sharing Ministry C-2

    A health care sharing ministry is a tax-exempt organization whose members:

    • Share a common set of ethical or religious beliefs, and
    • Share medical expenses in accordance with those beliefs, even after a member develops a medical condition.

    The health care sharing ministry must have been in existence and sharing medical expenses continuously since December 31, 1999.

    Federally Recognized Tribe C-3
  • Any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation (regional or village), band, nation, pueblo, village, rancheria, or community that the United States Department of the Interior acknowledges to exist as an Indian tribe.
  • People Eligible for Indian Health Services C-4

    You qualify for this exemption if you're:

    • A member of a federally recognized Indian tribe;
    • An Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation Shareholder (regional or village);
    • Otherwise eligible for services from an Indian health care provider or through the Indian Health Service.

    You qualify for the exemption for any month you had any of these statuses for at least 1 day, or for the full year if you had the status all year.

    You can claim this exemption for yourself or any dependent(s) you claim on your tax return who qualify.

    Incarcerated
    Coverage Exemption Type Exemption Code
    Incarcerated D-1
  • For these purposes, incarcerated means serving a term in prison or jail.
  • Incarceration doesn’t include being on probation, parole, or home confinement.
  • You’re not considered incarcerated if you’re being held but not convicted of a crime.
  • You can claim this exemption for any month you are incarcerated for at least 1 day.
  • U.S. Citizen Living Abroad and Certain Non-U.S. Citizens
    Coverage Exemption Type Exemption Code
    U.S. Citizen Abroad/Non-U.S. Citizen E-1

    You’re a U.S. citizen who either:

    • Spent at least 330 full days outside of the U.S. during a 12-month period, or
    • Was a bona fide resident of a foreign country (or countries) for a full tax year.

    You’re a resident alien who both:

    • Was a citizen or national of a foreign country with which the U.S. has an income tax treaty with a nondiscrimination clause including (1) a dual-state alien in the first year of U.S. residence or (2) a nonresident alien or dual-status who elects to file a joint return with a U.S. spouse, and
    • Was a bona fide resident of a foreign country for the next tax year. File for this exemption only if you are required to file a New Jersey resident tax return.
    Hardships
    Coverage Exemption Type Exemption Code
    Child Medically Supported by Another Party F-1

    You need to retain for your records copies of these documents:

    • A court order that covers the months you want to claim this exemption, and
    • A denial notice that shows the child was denied coverage through either Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in the tax year.

    This exemption applies only to the child, not you. You and other members of your household who don’t have coverage but don’t qualify for this exemption must qualify for a different exemption or pay the Shared Responsibility Payment.

    Homeless F-2

    This exemption applies to everyone listed on your tax return. No specific documentation is required, but the State may require corroboration on a case-by-case basis.

    Evicted or Facing Eviction/Foreclosure F-3
  • The eviction or foreclosure must have occurred in the last 3 years.
  • You’ll need to retain for your records an eviction or foreclosure notice when you apply for this exemption.
  • An eviction or foreclosure hardship could apply to you and the dependent(s) you claim on your tax return.

    Utility Shut-Off F-4
  • The utility shut-off must have occurred in the last 3 years.
  • You’ll need to retain for your records a copy of a notice from an electric, gas, or water utility company that says a service was or will be shut off.
  • Domestic Violence F-5

    To qualify for this exemption:
    You must have experienced domestic violence.
    A domestic violence exemption could apply to your entire household. No specific documentation is required, but the State may require corroboration on a case-by-case basis.

    Death of Close Family Member F-6

    To qualify for this exemption:

    • The death of the close family member must have occurred in the last 3 years.
    • You must retain for your records one of these forms of documentation:
      • Death certificate
      • Death notice from a newspaper
      • Funeral service program
      • Document showing funeral expenses
      • Coroner’s report
      • Military notification of death
      • Other official notice of death

    A death of a close family member hardship could apply to you and the dependent(s) you claim on your tax return.

    Fire, Flood, or Other Disaster F-7

    To qualify for this exemption:

    • You must have experienced the disaster within the last 3 years.
    • You need to retain for your records copies of a police record, fire record, insurance claim, or other document from a government agency, private entity, or news source about the event.

    An exemption due to a disaster could apply to you and the dependent(s) you claim on your tax return.

    Filed for Bankruptcy F-8

    To qualify for this exemption:

    • You must have filed for bankruptcy in the last 3 years.
    • You must retain for your records copies of official bankruptcy filing documents from a court of law.

    A bankruptcy hardship could apply to you and the dependent(s) you claim on your tax return.

    Unpaid Medical Expenses F-9
  • You need to retain copies of medical expenses you were unable to pay.
  • Increased Expenses Caring for a Family Member F-10

    To qualify for this exemption:

    • You must have experienced an increase in expenses for caring for a family member in the last 3 years.
    • You need to retain for your records copies of bills or receipts for services related to care. You can send copies of medical bills, statements for home care services, or transportation receipts.

    This hardship could apply to you and the dependent(s) you claim on your tax return.

    Uncovered Waiting for a Successful Appeal F-11

    To qualify for this exemption:

    • You need to retain for your records a copy of the appeal decision showing that in the months you didn’t have coverage you were eligible for at least one of these:
      • Enrollment in a qualified health plan (QHP) through the Marketplace
      • Advance payments of the premium tax credit to lower costs on your monthly premiums
      • Cost-sharing reductions that lower your out-of-pocket costs
    You Had Another Hardship (Not Listed) F-12

    To qualify for this exemption:

    • You must have experienced a hardship not currently listed.
    • You must provide an explanation of the hardship on your exemption application.

Last Updated: Wednesday, 11/01/23