Article: 50633
How do I add my MA healthcare information?
To add the Massachusetts Health Care screen to your return:
- Open the State Taxes section in the left-hand navigation.
- Click the link I’d like to see the forms I’ve filled out or search for a form.
- Select Massachusetts from the state drop-down.
- Under the Health Care tab, click Health Care – Policy Information.
What is Minimum Creditable Coverage?
Minimum Creditable Coverage (MCC) is the minimum level of health insurance benefits required for adult tax filers to be considered insured and avoid tax penalties in Massachusetts.
How do I report whether I had MCC in 20YY?
You’ll be asked to select one of the following:
- Full Year – If you had MCC-compliant insurance for all of 20YY.
- Part Year – If you had MCC for only part of 20YY. You’ll then select the months you had coverage.
- No Requirements Met – If you did not have MCC-compliant insurance at any time in 20YY.
What if I moved to Massachusetts during the year?
You’ll be asked whether you moved to Massachusetts on January 1, 20YY.
This determines whether you’re eligible for the Massachusetts Grace Period, which grants a three-month grace period for new residents meeting certain criteria.
I didn’t have coverage for the full year. What happens next?
If you didn’t have coverage for all of 20YY, you may be asked if you received a certificate exemption number from the Massachusetts Health Connector. If you did, you’ll need to enter it on your return
What types of health insurance are considered government-provided?
If you indicate that your insurance was government-provided, you’ll choose from the following options:
- MassHealth
- Commonwealth Care
- Medicare
- Veterans Administration Program Enrollment
- Tricare
- Other government insurance program
What if my insurance wasn’t provided by the government?
You’ll need to enter your private health insurance details, including:
- Insurance Company ID Number
- Insurance Company Name
- Subscriber Number
If you had more than one provider, you can enter a second.
If you had more than two, you’ll need to use Schedule HC-SC to provide additional information.
What if I have more than two policies to report?
If you have more than two health insurance providers to report, you’ll need to use the Health Care – Policy Information Continued screen. To add this screen:
- Open the State Taxes section in the left-hand navigation.
- Click the link I’d like to see the forms I’ve filled out or search for a form.
- Select Massachusetts from the state drop-down.
- Under the Health Care tab, click Health Care – Policy Information Continued.
- On this screen, you’ll enter:
- Whether the coverage is for the taxpayer, spouse, or joint
- The Federal ID Number of the insurance provider
- The Insurance company name
- The Subscriber number
What if I’m claiming a religious exemption?
You may claim a religious exemption if you have a sincere religious belief that prevents you from obtaining and maintaining health insurance.
Note: If you claim a religious exemption but received medical care during 20YY (such as an ER visit), you may still be penalized if it’s determined that you could have afforded health insurance.
What if I had four or more consecutive months without MCC?
You’ll need to complete an additional Eligibility screen, which asks about:
- Whether your employer offered insurance (free or otherwise)
- The lowest monthly premium available to you
- Your income before adjustments
- Whether you applied for or were denied MassHealth/Commonwealth Care
- Whether your employer offered a subsidized plan
- Your region number
- Whether you’re appealing the penalty due to hardship
What if my MA Health Care policy covers dependents who are not claimed on my return?
If you or your spouse are filing separate returns but lived in the same household at any time during the year, you’ll need to report the total number of people in your household—even if some of them are claimed on your spouse’s return. To do this, use the Health Care – Family Size Override screen:
- Open the State Taxes section in the left-hand navigation.
- Click the link I’d like to see the forms I’ve filled out or search for a form.
- Select Massachusetts from the state drop-down.
- Under the Health Care tab, click Health Care – Family Size Override.
- On this screen, select the total number of people in your family, including:
- Yourself
- Your spouse (if you lived together at any point during the year)
- Any dependents—whether claimed on your return or your spouse’s
Why am I being prompted for more information on the MA Health Care form when I had full-year coverage and already completed the form?
You may have accidentally selected or interacted with the “Are you claiming a religious exemption?” question on the Health Care – Policy Information form, even if you answered that you had full-year coverage. To resolve this:
- Open the Health Care – Policy Information screen.
- Scroll toward the bottom of the form.
- Click Clear next to Are you claiming a religious exemption?
- Save the form.
Once this field is cleared, the system should stop prompting you for additional information.
Further Information
For further information, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-personal-income-tax-forms-and-instructions