Is There a Penalty for Not Having Health Insurance in 2026? (By State)
Health Insurance GuideThere is no federal penalty for going without health insurance in 2026 — it's been $0 since 2019. But a handful of states have their own individual mandates with real penalties: California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. If you live in one of those, going uninsured can cost you hundreds or more at tax time. Everywhere else, there's no fine — though going uninsured still leaves you exposed to full medical bills.
Key Facts
- Federal penalty in 2026
- $0 — eliminated starting in 2019
- States with a mandate + penalty
- California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C.
- Where you pay it
- On your state income tax return
- Typical penalty
- Often the greater of a flat per-person amount or a percentage of income
- Everywhere else
- No fine — but you're exposed to full medical costs
The federal penalty is gone — but that's not the whole story
For years, the ACA had a federal penalty for going without health insurance — the 'individual mandate.' That federal penalty was reduced to $0 starting in 2019, and it's still $0 for 2026. So at the federal level, there is no fine for being uninsured.
But that's not the end of it. Several states passed their own individual mandates to replace the federal one, and those states do charge a penalty if you go without coverage. Whether you owe anything for being uninsured in 2026 depends entirely on where you live.
So the honest answer to 'is there a penalty?' is: federally, no — but in a handful of states, yes, and it can be real money at tax time.
Which states charge a penalty
As of 2026, the states (and district) with an individual mandate that carries a penalty are California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. Vermont technically has a mandate but does not impose a financial penalty for non-compliance.
In these states, you report your health coverage on your state income tax return, and if you (or your dependents) went without qualifying coverage for the year — and didn't qualify for an exemption — you can owe a penalty. The amounts are typically calculated as the greater of a flat per-person dollar figure or a percentage of your household income, with a cap.
Because the exact amounts and exemptions vary by state and update each year, check your state's tax authority or HealthCare.gov / your state exchange for the current figures before assuming you're in the clear.
| State / District | Penalty for going uninsured? |
|---|---|
| California | Yes |
| New Jersey | Yes |
| Rhode Island | Yes |
| Massachusetts | Yes |
| Washington, D.C. | Yes |
| Vermont | Mandate, but no financial penalty |
| All other states | No penalty |
Sources: state tax authorities; HealthCare.gov. Confirm current amounts and exemptions with your state.
Exemptions and how to avoid the penalty
Even in the states with a mandate, you're not automatically on the hook. Each of these states offers exemptions — for example, if coverage would cost more than a set percentage of your income, if you had a short coverage gap, for certain hardships, or for low income.
The simplest way to avoid the penalty, of course, is to have qualifying coverage — a Marketplace plan, employer coverage, Medicaid, or Medicare all count. And if your income is limited, you may qualify for a subsidized Marketplace plan or Medicaid that costs little or nothing, which sidesteps the penalty entirely while getting you covered.
If you live in a mandate state and skipped coverage, look up your state's specific exemptions before your tax filing — you may qualify for one.
The bigger risk isn't the penalty
Here's the part worth remembering even if you live in a state with no mandate: the penalty was never the main reason to have health insurance. The real risk of going uninsured is a single serious illness or accident leaving you with tens of thousands of dollars in bills and no coverage to absorb them.
Medical debt is one of the leading causes of financial hardship in the country, and it usually comes from unexpected events — a hospitalization, a diagnosis, an injury. A Marketplace plan, especially a subsidized one, caps your exposure with an out-of-pocket maximum.
So whether or not your state charges a penalty, the math on coverage is usually about protecting yourself from a catastrophic bill. A licensed agent can show you what a plan would actually cost you after subsidies — often far less than people expect — free.
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See If I Qualify →Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a federal penalty for not having health insurance in 2026?
No. The federal individual-mandate penalty has been $0 since 2019 and remains $0 for 2026. There is no federal fine for going uninsured. However, several states have their own penalties.
Which states charge a penalty for being uninsured?
As of 2026, California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. impose a penalty through their own individual mandates. Vermont has a mandate but no financial penalty. All other states have no penalty. Confirm current amounts with your state.
How much is the state health-insurance penalty?
It varies by state, but it's typically calculated as the greater of a flat per-person dollar amount or a percentage of household income, up to a cap. Each mandate state also offers exemptions. Check your state tax authority for the current figures.
How can I avoid the penalty in a mandate state?
Have qualifying coverage — a Marketplace plan, employer plan, Medicaid, or Medicare all count — or qualify for an exemption (such as coverage being unaffordable, a short gap, or hardship). If your income is limited, a subsidized Marketplace plan or Medicaid can cover you for little or nothing and avoid the penalty.