No. The new healthcare rules under the Affordable Care Act require only that employers provide health insurance for employees that work, on average, more than 30 hours per week.

While health insurance is no longer required at the federal level, there is a possibility that you will face a tax penalty for not having adequate coverage if you live in a state that has an individual mandate.

Right now, there are five states and one district where health insurance is required. You may be subject to a tax penalty if you live in one of the following areas and do not have medical insurance coverage:

• Massachusetts
• New Jersey
• Vermont
• California
• Rhode Island
• District of Columbia (Washington D.C.)

Even though your employer may not provide coverage there are a number of alternatives available. Which one is right for you depends on your situation. If you are 26 years old or younger you may be eligible to stay on your parents insurance. If you are 30 years old or younger you may be able to purchase catastrophic insurance. If none of those situations apply, you may be eligible for Medicaid or you qualify for a government subsidy to help reduce your insurance costs. To view your options, check out our Coverage Calculator.

A catastrophic insurance plan meets the insurance mandate for those 30 years of age and younger (and those with a "hardship exemption"). These plans cost a little less than traditional insurance as they do not provide the full scope of services and are limited to, as it sounds, protection in the case of a more catastrophic situation. These plans do cover 3 primary care visits per year at no cost and also include preventive services. Note also that catastrophic plans are not eligible for a government subsidy.

A full-time employee is someone who works, on average, 30 hours per week, per month or who works 130 hours per month.

No. The law allows employers to prescribe a 90 day waiting period before they need to make their insurance program available to new employees. And, as mentioned above, you must work at least 30 hours per week in order to qualify for insurance benefits.

If your employer offers coverage to part-time employees you have the option to get insurance through your employer or a health insurance marketplace. The choice is yours. Before you choose a plan there are some things to consider:

• Think about the cost. Is your employer insurance "affordable?" That is, is your cost for "you only" coverage less than 9.5% of your income?
  • If it is, and the insurance meets coverage standards as required by law, you can still buy insurance through a marketplace, but you will not qualify for financial help.
  • If you can't afford the health insurance offered to you through your employer or in a marketplace, you may qualify for Medicaid, or your children may qualify for the Children's Health Insurance Program. Each state has its own eligibility requirements for these programs.
• Think about the insurance coverage. What does your insurance "buy" you? That is, how much will you pay out of your own pocket when you use medical services?
  • How often do you expect to use your insurance? Do you see the doctor fairly often and take one or more prescription drugs for an ongoing condition, like high blood pressure or diabetes? Or do you only see the doctor once or twice a year for checkups and the occasional illness?
• Think about the network. If you have a doctor, it is important that you continue to see him or her? You'll pay less for care you get from in-network providers. So if you want to keep your doctor and pay lower, in-network rates, make sure that he or she is in your plan's network. If you need to find a doctor, does the plan's network have a wide selection of nearby doctors for you to choose from?

If you are covered by your school's student health plan you will be considered covered under the health care laws however, it is recommended that you confirm that this coverage meets the health care law's requirements with your student health plan.

Yes you may be eligible for a subsidy. Even if you have access to a student health plan you could still be eligible for a subsidy. Subsidy qualification is based primarily on income and household size.