Janemarie Mulvey
Specialist in Health Care Financing
Hinda Chaikind
Section Research Manager
Beginning in 2014, ACA through amendments to the Internal Revenue Code requires individuals to maintain health insurance, with some exceptions. Most individuals will be required to maintain minimum essential coverage, which includes eligible employer coverage, individual coverage, grandfathered plans, and federal programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, among others. Those who do not maintain minimum essential coverage, and who are not exempt from the mandate, will be required to pay a penalty for noncompliance.
On June 28, 2012, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, finding that the individual mandate in § 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code (as added by § 1501 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)), is a constitutional exercise of Congress’s authority to levy taxes. However, the Court held that it was not a valid exercise of Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause or the Necessary and Proper Clause.
This report describes the individual mandate under Section 1501 and Section 10106 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA, P.L. 111-148), as amended by Section 1002 of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152). Hereinafter, “ACA” will refer to ACA as amended by the reconciliation act and other laws. In addition, ACA includes several reporting requirements designed, in part, to assist individuals in providing evidence of having met the mandate, as well as other related information about their health insurance. These requirements are also described in this report.
Date of Report: July 2, 2012
Number of Pages: 16
Order Number: R41331
Price: $29.95
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