One of the main potential issues related to the Obama Care’s individual mandate seems to be connected to the opinion that some Americans might have that paying the tax penalty for not having health insurance might be more convenient than getting health coverage (considering the latter a more expensive choice). Moreover, US citizens living/residing abroad very often believe to qualify for an exemption from such a tax penalty. It is however important to remember that expats might not qualify for such an exemption. In fact, only U.S. citizens living in a foreign country for at least 330 days of a 12-month period are not required to get health insurance coverage for that 12-month period. If you’re uninsured and living abroad under this definition, you don’t have to pay the fee that other uninsured U.S. citizens may have to pay.

If instead you are planning to travel back home, maybe even just to visit your family and friends, and by doing so you will end up staying in the US for more than 35 days per year, be aware that the exemption might not apply (please be aware though that other factors might come into play) and you might have to either get the minimum essential coverage or pay the tax penalty (if you’re uninsured for just part of the year, 1/12 of the yearly penalty applies to each month you’re uninsured. If you’re uninsured for less than 3 months of the year, you don’t have to make a payment).

Regardless of the above, if you are a US citizen living abroad and planning to travel back home or you are currently living in the US and considering moving abroad and your health insurance options, it is strongly suggested, before making any type of decision, to refer to the applicable legislation, available at the following link:

https://www.healthcare.gov/

And here follows a link to an interesting article by Jeffrey Young on the Obama Care’s individual mandate:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/25/obamacare-individual-mandate_n_5007960.html