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: Good morning. I'm looking for information about what is the so called affordable care act and how is related to my VA health coverage. Could you help me on that?

assistant: My pleasure. That act, the ACA, is also known as the health care law. and was created to expand access to coverage, control health care costs and to improve health care quality and care coordination.

user: Umm, Very useful information there. That makes me wonder, The health coverage through VA does match ACA's minimum essential coverage requirements for this year?  2018, i mean?

assistant: Nothing to worry about. This coverage do meets the minimum essential coverage requirement for 2018. That is, of course, if you were signed up for one of the programs which enlist this feature.

assistant: Were you under the coverage of one of these programs in 2018?

user: Yes, i was under one.

assistant: That's good news for you then, because you won't have to pay the fee when you file your 2018 taxes.

user: Pretty sweet. I'm pretty sure it is there but, is there any chance that CHAMPVA being one the programs?

assistant: It is, indeed. One of the programs is in fact the CHAMPVA through the Program of Comprehensive Assistance to Family Caregivers.

user: What a good news, really good. Now, by any chance this law modify any of my VA health benefits?

assistant: Not at all. The ACA doesn't have any influence on your VA health benefits.

user: Great. In the other hand, you may know that sometimes you had to pay a penalty for not having health insurance. Do that still apply?

assistant: No. Congress modified that for those plans starting in 2019 and later, meaning that individual shared responsibility is no longer in effect.