• If you aren’t claimed as a tax dependent by someone else and have no tax dependents yourself: Count only yourself in your household.

• If you are claimed as a tax dependent by someone else: You’re counted as part of their household, not your own.

You must include the income of any dependent required to file a federal income tax return for the year you want coverage.

Single dependents under 65 are required to file if any of the following applies:

• They expect earned income over $6,300.

  • Includes salaries, wages, tips, and taxable scholarships and fellowships

• They expect unearned income over $1,050.

  • Includes interest or dividends from investments, distributions from trusts, unemployment compensation, and taxable Social Security benefits

• They expect net self-employment income over $400.

  • Self-employment income is income from a business you run yourself. Net self-employment income, sometimes known as “profit,” is income greater than your business deductions.

Different filing requirements apply to dependents who have earned and unearned income that together total more than certain amounts. If a dependent has both earned and unearned income, consult the IRS document below.

There are different filing requirements for dependents who are married, over 65, or blind.

Note: If a dependent isn’t required to file a tax return but does anyway — like to get a refund — you don’t have to count their income on your Marketplace application.

See official IRS rules on filing requirements, including amounts for dependents who are married, over 65, or blind, definitions of earned and unearned income, and important details.

(Figures above are for 2015, the most recent year available.)

Yes, with certain exceptions.

• If you’re married and will file a joint federal tax return for the year you want coverage: You’re eligible for a premium tax credit and other savings if you qualify based on your income and other factors.
• If you’re married and will file separately for the year you want coverage: You can enroll in a Marketplace plan together but you’re not eligible for a premium tax credit or other savings, and you may have to complete a separate application.
• If you’re married and plan to file as head of household for the year you want coverage: You can say you’re "unmarried" on your Marketplace application. You’re then eligible for a premium tax credit and other savings if you qualify based on your income and other factors. See IRS rules for filing as head of household.
• See the next question for an exception for victims of domestic abuse and spousal abandonment.

No, you don’t have to file jointly — and you can still qualify for a premium tax credit and other savings.

If you’re living apart from your spouse and are a victim of domestic abuse, domestic violence, or spousal abandonment and want to enroll in your own health plan separate from you abuser or abandoner, you can say you’re “unmarried” on your Marketplace application without fear of penalty for mis-stating your marital status.

This will let you (and possibly your dependents) qualify for premium tax credits and other savings based on your income.

Marketplace savings are based on expected income for all household members, not just the ones who need insurance.

If anyone in your household has coverage through a job-based plan, a plan they bought themselves, a public program like Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare, or another source, include them and their expected income on your application.

When you apply you can state which household members need coverage.

You won’t qualify for a premium tax credit and other savings based on your income. You can buy a Marketplace plan but would have to pay full price.