Canadian residents probably do not give much thought to
Obamacare, otherwise known as the Affordable Health Care
Act in the United States. The program will have little or no
impact on most Canadians. But in some circumstances, Obamacare will
extend across the border to a small percentage of individuals
living in Canada.
Specifically, Obamacare may be relevant to Canadian residents
who are also U.S. citizens or and U.S. permanent residents (green
card holders), as well as Canadians who are present in the U.S.
long enough during a calendar year to qualify as resident aliens
for U.S. tax purposes.
Before discussing these impacts, it is helpful to understand
Obamacare's basic provisions. The Act requires certain
individuals to maintain a minimum level of health care coverage,
and certain business groups to provide health care coverage to
their employees. Further, certain additional taxes were implemented
on wages and investments to cover the related costs. The taxes
