Starting in 2014, every person in the U.S. must have minimum health coverage or an exemption – otherwise they may pay a fee on their federal tax return. Many people without health coverage can get an exemption from the fee because of a special situation, like not having affordable health insurance plans available to you, having only a short gap in coverage, or being eligible for services through the Indian Health Service. Also, if you had coverage starting in May 2014 or earlier, you qualify for an exemption for those months in 2014 before your coverage started.