701—38.19 (422) Indication of dependent child health care coverage on tax return. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2008, an individual who is an Iowa resident as of December 31 of the tax year who files an Iowa individual income tax return may report on the return the presence or absence of health care coverage for each dependent child as of December 31 of the tax year for which the exemption credit described in 701—subrule 42.2(1), paragraph “c,” is claimed. It is not mandatory that a taxpayer indicate on the tax return the presence or absence of health care coverage for each dependent, and there is no penalty if this information is not provided on the tax return.
	 38.19(1) Definition of health care coverage. Health care coverage includes the following:
	  a.   	 Private health care coverage provided through an employer, a relative’s employer, or through a union.
	  b.   	 Private health care coverage purchased by an individual from a private company.
	  c.   	 Government health care coverage provided through the state Medicaid program set forth in Iowa Code chapter 249A, or the HAWK-I (healthy and well kids in Iowa) program set forth in Iowa Code chapter 514I.
	  d.   	 Government health care coverage provided by the military including the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (TRICARE/CHAMPUS) and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA).
	  e.   	 Government health care coverage provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services to eligible American Indians under the Indian Health Service program.
	 38.19(2) Notification to the taxpayer. If the taxpayer indicates on the return that a dependent child does not have health care coverage and the taxpayer's income reflected on the tax return is within the eligibility requirements for either the Medicaid program or the HAWK-I program, the department will send a letter to the taxpayer indicating that the dependent may be eligible for health care coverage under either the Medicaid or HAWK-I program. The letter will also enclose an application for health care coverage under either the Medicaid or HAWK-I program which can be completed and sent to the Iowa department of human services. The department of human services will make the final determination on whether the taxpayer is eligible under the Medicaid or HAWK-I program. A dependent child must be under the age of 21 to be eligible for the Medicaid program, and a dependent child must be under the age of 19 to be eligible for the HAWK-I program.
	 38.19(3) Reporting requirements. The department, in cooperation with the department of human services, must submit an annual report to the governor and the general assembly which will include the following:
	  a.   	 Number of Iowa families, by income level, who claim the personal exemption credit for dependent children described in 701—subrule 42.2(1), paragraph “c.”
	  b.   	 The number of Iowa families, by income level, who claim the personal exemption credit who also indicated the presence or absence of health care coverage for their dependent children.
	  c.   	 The effect of these reporting and notification requirements on the number and percentage of children in Iowa who are uninsured.
This rule is intended to implement 2008 Iowa Acts, House File 2539, section 4.