Are my parents required to provide health insurance if they claim me as a dependent on their tax returns?

A couple of years ago my parents kicked me off their health insurance plan and said I need to get my own. At the time, I was in school and wasn’t working so they were paying for my expenses.

That situation has changed, but they’ve been claiming me as a dependent the entire time. Despite that, I’ve been paying out of pocket for health insurance. I was making just enough working a blue collar job 50-60 hours a week that I didn’t qualify for my state’s health care assistance but because I’m contracted I don’t get health benefits either. I’ve been shelling out $350ish bucks a month for a super basic health insurance plan.

Because I’m a dependent, I also didn’t get any of the stimulus checks either.. tf

I only found out that my parents might be on the hook for my health insurance because I switched to new insurance this year and was reading about my state’s tax penalties for being uninsured.. boo. But it made me think, if my parents get tax deductions for claiming me as a dependent surely I should get something out of this situation?

See also  New program gives employers health insurance option – BizWest - BizWest