All Rhode Islanders must have qualifying health coverage beginning January 1, 2020. Failure to have such "minimum essential coverage" in 2020 may result in a Rhode Island personal income tax penalty in 2021. So now is the time to plan ahead.
Most people have minimum essential coverage (through employer-sponsored health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE, or some other means) and will not have to pay the penalty. Rhode Island residents who don't have such coverage can enroll in new health insurance or renew their health insurance through Rhode Island's health insurance exchange -- HealthSource RI.
For more information, including details about the current open enrollment period and about how eligible Rhode Islanders can receive financial assistance to lower the cost of health insurance, see https://healthsourceri.com/.
- HealthSource RI's open enrollment period began November 1 and ends December 31. But you must pick your plan and pay for it by December 23 in order to get coverage starting January 1, 2020.
