These 5 states still penalize you if you don't have health insurance

Even though the federal penalty for not having health insurance ended, five places still charge residents a fee.

Millions of Americans may have decided to forgo health insurance this year after extra COVID-era federal subsidies expired, but those who live in certain places may be paying penalties for that choice.

While the federal government stopped penalizing Americans without health insurance in 2019, four states and Washington DC still do. The penalties, usually paid when state tax returns are filed, are designed to encourage healthy people to buy insurance to help keep costs down for everyone.

These fines sometimes are called a “shared responsibility payment” on the idea it’s everyone’s responsibility to make health coverage available, affordable, and accessible – even if you can’t find affordable health care for yourself. The only ways to avoid the fines are to get an exemption or buy health insurance.

“The penalties can be pretty steep,” said Kiersten DeFluri, Medicare specialist at Daniel A. White & Associates.

Americans in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Washington, DC still face penalties for not having health insurance.