# When does the ACA Individual Mandate actually start? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 22, 2013, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-aca-individual-mandate-actually-start/676937 "2013-12-22T05:11:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2013, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-aca-individual-mandate-actually-start/676937/1 "2013-12-22T05:11:07Z")
Is in on January 1st, when the policies go into effect, or April 1 (the day after open enrolment ends on March 31st)? At what point in 2014 does one need to have a compliant policy to not get fined by the IRS in 2015? ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2013, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-aca-individual-mandate-actually-start/676937/2 "2013-12-22T07:35:02Z")
The requirement for coverage begins as of January 1, 2104. However short gaps, up to 3 months, without coverage will not trigger the fee. Thus if your coverage starts April 1,2014 and you remain insured for the rest of the year then you would not owe the shared responsibility fee. [Cite](http://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-individual-mandate.php) ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-aca-individual-mandate-actually-start/676937/3 "2013-12-23T02:45:35Z")
What if you can’t afford anything but Medicare, and can’t even apply until 1/1/14 (when, charmingly enough, my individual policy dies) and the coverage won’t begin until 7/1/14 - do I get screwed yet again? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-aca-individual-mandate-actually-start/676937/4 "2013-12-23T04:49:48Z")
You may be eligible for a hardship [exemption](https://www.healthcare.gov/exemptions/). ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-aca-individual-mandate-actually-start/676937/5 "2013-12-23T05:54:13Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > What if you can’t afford anything but Medicare, and can’t even apply until 1/1/14 (when, charmingly enough, my individual policy dies) and the coverage won’t begin until 7/1/14 - do I get screwed yet again? Do you mean Medicaid? ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-aca-individual-mandate-actually-start/676937/6 "2013-12-23T07:24:47Z")
First: Medicare, Parts B and D (have A). Since I have A (automatic when you get SS Disability), I can’t do a normal enrollment. Lesson: If you become eligible for Part B, TAKE IT, even if you have private insurance. ACA will not allow subsidy if you are ELIGIBLE for Parts A and B - even if you don’t enroll. I asked about hardship, and the person I was directed to call said “no dice - you screwed”. I tried to get Medicaid (Medi-Cal in CA). Just got the “you’re accepted!” letter - with a $1402/MONTH deductible. Round 3 of trying to get covered before one of my chronics blows up coming up!.