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Colchester Public Schools
127 Norwich Avenue, Suite 202
Colchester, CT 06415
Health Reform: Individual Mandate
Summary
January 1, 2014, the health reform law’s individual mandate takes effect.
What does the individual mandate mean to you?
This part of the law requires most individuals to have health insurance. If you do not have health
insurance, you will pay a penalty. If you have a family, your family members must also have health
insurance.
What health insurance plans meet the requirements for the individual mandate?
• Most employer group health plans, including Colchester Public Schools’ plan
• An individual health insurance policy obtained through a public health insurance
marketplace/exchange or elsewhere
• A government plan such as Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP),
TRICARE, or veterans coverage
• Student health coverage
• Medicare Advantage plan
• State high-risk pool coverage
• Coverage for non-U.S. citizens provided by another country
• Refugee medical assistance provided by Administration for Children and Families
• Coverage for AmeriCorps volunteers
Does Colchester Public Schools’ group health plan meet the requirement?
Yes, coverage under our group health plan meets the individual mandate requirement; therefore you have
no penalty if you enroll under our plan.
Colchester Public Schools
127 Norwich Avenue, Suite 202
Colchester, CT 06415
What is the penalty for not complying with the law?
If you do not enroll in and maintain insurance for yourself and your dependents you may be required to
pay an annual penalty (prorated for the number of months of the year during which you don’t have
coverage).
Penalty
YEAR ADULT CHILD* FAMILY* MAXIMUM PENALTY*
2014 $95 per adult $47.50 per child $285 1 percent of family income
OR
2015 $325 per adult $162.50 per child $975 2 percent of family income
2016 $695 per adult $347.50 per child $2,085 2.5 percent of family income
*Penalty is the greater of the dollar amount or percentage of income.
You may be exempt from a penalty if any of the following apply:
• You cannot afford coverage (would have to pay more than eight percent of annual household income
to purchase health insurance after taking into account any employer contributions and subsidies).
• Your income is below the tax-filing threshold.
• You qualify for a hardship exemption.
• You experience a gap in coverage of less than three consecutive months in one calendar year.
• You are a member of religious group that objects to coverage on religious principles.
• You are a member of non-profit religious organization that shares medical costs.
• You are in prison.
• You are a non-U.S. citizen.
• You are a Native American tribe member.
If you think you qualify for an exemption, please visit www.healthcare.gov for more information.