By Ryan Kennelly
November 29, 2016
Topics:
November 29, 2016
For the Health Insurance Marketplace, a household usually includes the tax filer, their spouse if they have one, and their tax dependents.
Follow these basic rules when including members of your household:
See the limited exceptions to these basic rules in the chart below.
Learn more about who you can claim as a tax dependent from the IRS.
| Relationship | Include in household? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dependent children, including adopted and foster children | Yes | Include any child you’ll claim as a tax dependent, regardless of age. |
| Children, shared custody | Sometimes | Include children whose custody you share only during years you claim them as tax dependents. |
Non-dependent child under 26 | Sometimes | Include them only if you want to cover them on your Marketplace plan. |
| Children under 21 you take care of | Yes | Include any child under 21 you take care of and who lives with you, even if not your tax dependent. |
Unborn children | No | Don’t include a baby until it’s born. You have up to 60 days after the birth to enroll your baby. |
| Dependent parents | Yes | Include parents only if you’ll claim them as tax dependents. |
| Dependent siblings and other relatives | Yes | Include them only if you’ll claim them as tax dependents. |
| Spouse | Yes | Include your legally married spouse, whether opposite sex or same sex. In most cases, married couples must file taxes jointly to qualify for savings. |
Legally separated spouse | No | Don’t include a legally separated spouse, even if you live together. |
| Divorced spouse | No | Don’t include a former spouse, even if you live together. |
Spouse, living apart | Yes | Include your spouse unless you’re legally separated or divorced. (See next row for an important exception.) |
| Spouse, if you’re a victim of domestic abuse, domestic violence, or spousal abandonment | Not required | In these cases, you don’t have to include your spouse. See rules for victims of domestic abuse, domestic violence, or spousal abandonment. |
Unmarried domestic partner | Sometimes | Include an unmarried domestic partner only if you have a child together or you’ll claim your partner as a tax dependent. |
| Roommate | No | Don’t include people you just live with — unless they’re a spouse, tax dependent, or covered by another exception in this chart. |
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