Can I buy insurance for my kids and pay the tax for myself?
A common question we hear in our customer care center is: "Can I get health insurance for my children only and pay the tax penalty for myself and my spouse?" Yes and no. Yes, you can buy insurance for your kids without insuring yourself. But you and your spouse will be subject to a tax penalty if you do not have qualifying health coverage. When it comes to buying insurance for your kids, effective January 1st, 2014, the Affordable Care Act requires any insurer that offers a metallic-level plan to an individual adult, to also make that plan available to an individual child, provided that child has not reached their 21st birthday at the beginning of the plan year. Child Only Coverage 1. Insurers in the exchange must offer coverage 2. Available for children under age 21 3. Plans must meet all benefit standards
