This is from hewalthinsurance.org and there were similar articles on NPR, etc.
"In addition to the situations that already counted as hardships, you can now get a hardship exemptions if you live in an area where there’s only one insurer offering plans in the exchange (or zero insurers, but
that didn’t happen anywhere in 2018), or if the only available exchange plans cover abortion and you’re opposed to that. Hardship exemptions are also available if you “experience personal circumstances that create a hardship in obtaining health insurance coverage under a QHP,” because, for example, a specialist you need to see does not participate in the networks of any of the available exchange plans.
Source:
https://www.healthinsurance.org/obamacare/obamacare-penalty-exemptions/
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And this from the Department of Health and Human Service:
In accordance with 45 CFR §155.605(d)(1)(iii), the FFE may grant a hardship exemption when a person lives in a county, borough, or parish in which there is only one issuer offering coverage through the FFE for the current year and the person can show that the resulting lack of choice has precluded him or her from obtaining coverage under a QHP
https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Regulations-and-Guidance/Downloads/2018-Hardship-Exemption-Guidance.pdf
Looks like I have to fill out a form and just explain it in words....