First, the evidence should come from a good believable source. Second, the evidence should be to the point. Third, it should make a persuasive argument on that point. And fourth, the evidence should give strong support to the point its making and never contradict itself.

The ACA has helped millions of Americans gain insurance coverage, saved thousands of lives, and strengthened the health care system. The law has been life-changing for people who were previously uninsured, have lower incomes, or have preexisting conditions, among other groups.

Without health insurance coverage, a serious accident or a health issue that results in emergency care and/or an expensive treatment plan can result in poor credit or even bankruptcy. 5 Even when medical debt doesn’t end in bankruptcy, it takes a toll on consumers.

A new California law that went into effect on Wednesday resuscitates the requirement that people obtain health coverage or face tax penalties. An adult who is uninsured in 2020 face could be hit with a state tax charge of $695 or 2.5% of his or her gross income. A family of four could pay a penalty of at least $2,085.

But what happens if it turns out you underestimate your annual income? If you already benefited from premium assistance payments, you’ll have to pay them back to the IRS when you file your income taxes for the year. These repayments must be made with the 2019 tax return, filed by April 15, 2020.

“Do I need health insurance to file taxes?” Before 2019, you needed health insurance (or a qualifying exemption) or you were subject to a penalty payable with your income tax return. You no longer will be penalized for not having health insurance.

Obamacare’s individual mandate requires most legal U.S. residents to get covered, so you might be subject to a tax penalty if you were uncovered for more than three months. You’ll need form 8965 to include a mandate exemption on your tax return.

United States Department of Health and Human Services declared the law unconstitutional in an action brought by 26 states, on the grounds that the individual mandate to purchase insurance exceeds the authority of Congress to regulate interstate commerce.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), formally known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and colloquially known as Obamacare, is a United States federal statute enacted by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010.

The ACA has been highly controversial, despite the positive outcomes. Conservatives objected to the tax increases and higher insurance premiums needed to pay for Obamacare. Some people in the healthcare industry are critical of the additional workload and costs placed on medical providers.

Health insurance premiums rose by 7.9% and 8.2% for single and family coverage respectively in the 10 years before Obamacare. Since then, the average annual rate of increase was 4.0% for single coverage and 4.6% for family coverage. Obamacare supporters claimed it would reduce the number of uninsured individuals.