for people with very low incomes or no income the law provides financial assistance to make insurance affordable. you may qualify for medicaid coverage which would be virtually no-cost coverage. if you make too much to qualify or you live in a state not expanding its medicaid program you'll likely qualify for subsidies to lower the cost of your insurance. i suggest you check your state's marketplace to begin shopping your options. you can do that at healthcare. gov. if it turns out there are no affordable options available to you (medicaid isn't expanding in your state or there is no health plan costing less than 8% of your income) you will not be penalized for not having coverage.
what do i do if i can not pay for health insurance because i have no income