HHS on Wednesday issued regulations that exempt people who can't purchase insurance for less than 9% of their yearly pay from the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate. Certain people in states that forgo Medicaid expansion will be exempt as well, HHS said. Proposals from HHS and the Internal Revenue Service "include rules that will ease implementation and help to ensure that the payment applies only to the limited group of taxpayers who choose to spend a substantial period of time without coverage despite having ready access to affordable coverage," according to CMS.