The Affordable Care Act: Facts & How It Affects Your Taxes

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, often shortened to the Affordable Care Act and also known as Obamacare, was enacted to make health insurance affordable for more people. It expanded the Medicaid program and it supports innovations in the medical care field designed to lower overall health care costs.

The Affordable Care Act, or ACA, has met with some amount of opposition since its inception. It passed without a single Congressional Republican voting for it back in ​2010​. Its main objective was to provide affordable health insurance coverage to more Americans by offering private health insurance to the masses through online marketplaces.

These online marketplaces or exchanges provide coverage with help from federal premium subsidies. States were encouraged to expand Medicaid to include more low-income Americans, and the ACA requires that health insurance providers cover basic services like cancer screenings. Health insurers can no longer cancel coverage for sick patients who need costly medical treatments, and they can't turn down applicants with pre-existing conditions.

Some aspects of the ACA weakened under the Trump administration, such as the provision requiring that birth control services be paid by health insurance and the repeal of the mandated tax penalties for not carrying insurance.

The ACA and its provisions are still debated, but ​4.5​ ​million​ Americans signed up for 2022 coverage through the Marketplaces during the ​2021 Open Enrollment Period​, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The Health Insurance Marketplace, also known as the Marketplace or the Exchange, assists people with finding and enrolling in suitable health plans. The Marketplace is operated by the federal government for most states, but some have elected to run their own exchanges. California has its own health insurance exchange known as Covered California.

There are four categories of health insurance plans, according to Healthcare.gov: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. These "metal categories" differ in how the costs of your coverage are split between you and your plan.

You must provide your income and other household information to shop for and compare various health insurance options on the Marketplace. You can also find out if you are eligible for the Premium Tax Credit or other discounts that can make health insurance coverage more affordable for you and your family.

The Marketplace provides for an open enrollment period for obtaining health coverage each year. The last period ran from ​November 1, 2021​ through ​January 15, 2022​ after the Biden Administration extended it for one month from the usual ​December 15​ deadline. New York has moved its deadline back to ​March 13​ in response to the ongoing public health emergency. Maryland has taken a similar step, extending its deadline to ​February 28​.

You can check the Healthcare.gov site to see if you qualify for Special Enrollment Period coverage if you miss this period.

​Read More:​ Health Insurance Basics

Changes made to the Act include the repeal of the individual mandate penalty and the introduction of alternative health care options, including short-term plans. The repeal of the penalty doesn't absolve you from the requirement to maintain health care coverage, but you no longer have to pay a financial penalty if you don't.

The good news is the federal subsidies that assist with health insurance coverage have seen an increase. The average monthly subsidy for health insurance premiums is ​$492​ in ​2020​.

The not so good news is that people who are shopping for plans at the Marketplace will get less guidance. The ACA's navigator program, which helps consumers select a plan, has been subject to some funding cuts. Some people might have a harder time signing up for coverage or selecting an appropriate plan.

​Read More:​ Health Insurance for Freelancers

The ACA can impact your taxes even with the ​2019 repeal​ of the tax penalty for not carrying health insurance coverage.

You should receive IRS Form 1095-A, "Health Insurance Marketplace Statement," if you're enrolled in health coverage through the Marketplace. This form allows you to apply for the Premium Tax Credit, file an accurate tax return and to reconcile the credit on your return.

The IRS gives taxpayers a break on their taxes to help shoulder the burden of the cost of health care premiums. The Premium Tax Credit is a refundable credit that helps individuals and families with covering their premiums for insurance purchased on the Health Insurance Marketplace. You must meet certain requirements that determine your eligibility.

You can't file your tax return using the married filing separately status if you qualify for and want to claim the credit, with a couple of exceptions. This rule is waived if you're a domestic violence victim or you were abandoned by your spouse. You can't be claimed as a dependent on anyone else's tax return.

Enrolling through the Marketplace will automatically determine if you qualify for advance payments of the premium tax credit. These payments are remitted directly to your insurance company to lower your out-of-pocket health care premiums, but you can also opt to receive the cash as a tax refund instead. You'd then have to pay the full amount of your premiums yourself, however.

​Read More:​ Tax Credits: What Are They and How Do You Qualify?