Government Healthcare Policy, Business and Technology

CMS removes one more barrier to the ACA individual mandate exemption

Modern Healthcare: People who opted out of the Obamacare exchanges this year can claim a "hardship" exemption to the individual mandate penalty without presenting supporting documents or a written explanation, the CMS announced Wednesday.

The move will impact people who chose either to go uninsured or who bought coverage that doesn't comply with Obamacare regulations. It follows the agency's April guidance that expanded the exemption to people who live in bare counties or regions with just one insurer on the exchanges. The CMS invited exemption claims going back to the 2016 benefit year, but claimants still had to give a written explanation for why they required the exemption.

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