General Hardship Exemption

If you have a general hardship that prevents you from getting health insurance, you can apply for a general hardship exemption.

Criteria

The hardship you experienced included one of the following reasons:

• Appeals decision shows eligibility for enrollment through Covered California when not actually enrolled.

• Bankruptcy.

• Death of a close family member.

• Domestic violence.

• Evicted in the past six months or is facing eviction or foreclosure.

• Experienced homelessness.

• Medical expenses that resulted in substantial debt.

• Medical support order.

• Natural disaster (i.e. fire, flood, or human-caused disaster).

• Unexpected increases in necessary expenses or decreases in household income due to divorce/separation; unexpected or sudden disability; or caring for an ill, disabled or aging family member.

• Utility shut-off.

• Other (granted on a case-by-case basis).

What You Will Need to Apply

You will need the following information for all household members:

• Date of birth.

• Social Security numbers (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN), if you have one.

• Proof to support your claim of hardship.

Apply for Exemption