Health Insurance, Study Abroad and Obamacare

Parents Forum
1

Tax filing for my son this year has been quite the adventure. In 2015, he was covered under his university health plan from January - July. He then studied abroad from June through the end of the year. He had health insurance for his study abroad program that he was required to purchase for his long-term visa. This was the only health insure he had while he was in France. Does he have to pay the penalty for not having coverage in the US for the 6 months he was in France? He had coverage and he paid for it. This is documented. I tried researching this online and haven’t found any definitive answer.

Help!

2

Not an expert by any means, but it makes no sense that if he wasn’t living in the US, he had to have US coverage. He was in France and had coverage there. Maybe check into the Rules on expat income? It is definitely confusing, but may help answer the question.

3

Sounds like he was covered all year.

4

if it was me, I’d make the claim that he was covered all year (because I think he was!) and let them prove otherwise if they think not. I’d be floored if it ever became an issue.