If you are one of the millions of people who bought health care through a health insurance exchange, filing your tax return may require more effort this year: This is the first time taxpayers will have to report their health care status on their tax returns.

The vast majority of taxpayers will simply have to check a box stating they were insured. But some uninsured people will be required to pay a penalty, while others will be exempt because of a hardship or some other reason.

Dealing with these issues for the first time is likely to raise many questions: Who will qualify for an exemption — and how do you get one? How does the penalty actually work? And if you bought insurance on a federal or state-run exchange and received help paying your premiums — through the premium tax credit — what do you need to do?

Here are some answers to those questions and others:

I have health insurance, but not through a health care exchange. Do I need to do anything differently?