Note: The necessity to complete Form 8965 is not required beginning with tax year 2019 as the Shared Responsibility Payment provision of the Affordable Care Act was repealed in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
One of the requirements of the Affordable Care Act is that everyone on a tax return (the primary taxpayer, the spouse, and each dependent) must have either minimum essential health care coverage or an exemption from coverage for every month of the year, otherwise the primary taxpayer will be penalized and assessed a Shared Responsibility Payment. If anyone on the return does not have the required health care coverage for any month, Form 8965 should be completed.
Minimum essential health coverage consists of employer provided health care coverage, health insurance purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare, most Medicaid coverage, state run Children Health Insurance Programs and most health care coverage provided to veterans and active duty service members.
Minimum Essential Health Coverage is typically reported to the taxpayer on Forms 1095-A (Health Insurance Marketplace), 1095-B (small employer and SHOP plans), and 1095-C (large employer).
Additional Information:
HealthCare.Gov Types of health insurance that count as coverage