The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and your VA health care coverage 
The Affordable Care Act ACA also known as the health care law was created to expand access to coverage, control health care costs, and improve health care quality and care coordination. Find out what you need to know about the ACA and your health coverage. 

Do I still have to pay a penalty if I don t have health insurance? 
You don t have to pay a penalty if you don t have health insurance in 2019 or any year after that. Through the end of 2018 , the ACA required all U.S. taxpayers to have health coverage that met a minimum standard called the minimum essential coverage requirement unless they qualified for an exemption due to certain life events, financial status, or other factors. This meant that if you had affordable health coverage options, but chose not to buy health insurance, you would have to pay a fee when filing your taxes. This fee was known as an individual shared responsibility payment. It was also sometimes called the penalty, fine, or individual mandate. Congress changed this part of the law for plans starting in 2019 and after. The individual shared responsibility payment no longer applies starting in plan year 2019 for which you ll file taxes in April 2020. Note: If you didn t have coverage or an exemption in 2018 , you may still have to pay a fee when you file your 2018 taxes in April 2019. Go to HealthCare.gov to learn more about exemptions 

Does my health coverage through VA meet the ACA s minimum essential coverage requirement for 2018? 
Your health coverage meets the minimum essential coverage requirement for 2018 if you were signed up for one of the programs listed below. If you were covered under one of these programs in 2018 , you won t have to pay the fee when you file your 2018 taxes. To qualify , you must have been enrolled in one of these programs : The VA health care program , or The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs CHAMPVA , or 

user: Hello there, I came here to learn more about my health care coverage.

assistant: Of course. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) also known as the health care law was created to expand access to coverage, control health care costs, and improve health care quality and care coordination.

user: What requirements do I need to meet to qualify for it?

assistant: You must have been enrolled in one of several programs to qualify.

user: I guess you are talking about those that are also listed on your page. I understand. But something I've been wondering about is: do I still have to pay a penalty, even if I don't have a health insurance?

assistant: You don't have to pay a penalty if you don't have health insurance in 2019 or any year after that.

assistant: Did you NOT have coverage or an exemption in 2018?

user: No, I did have coverage in 2018.

user: Does the affordable care act affect my health benefits as a veteran?

assistant: No, the health care law doesn't change your VA health benefits or your out-of-pocket costs.

user: But if I was enrolled in your health care program, for example, I wouldn't have to pay a fee, right?

assistant: Correct. If you were covered under the VA health care program in 2018, you won't have to pay the fee when you file your 2018 taxes.