health insurance in new york is no longer mandatory
There is no tax penalty for not having insurance
however if one already lived in new york and had insurance from before, are they sinful if they keep their insurance?
large medical bills can occur especially when it comes having a baby and delivering in the hospital
is someone living in new york sinful for having health insurance?
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب وباللہ التوفیق
Insurance is allowed only under a legal compulsion, but is preferred to have it cancelled if possible.
Important to note is that you are allowed to avail the same amount of treatment facility as the amount you have deposited as total insurance premium. Any excess amount remaining in the insurance scheme after the treatment should be given in charity, without any intention of reward.
The Holy Qur'an says:
﴿ يَآ أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ اٰمَنُوآ اِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنْصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُون﴾ [المائدة: 90]
Sahih Muslim says:
عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ: «لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اٰكِلَ الرِّبَا، وَمُؤْكِلَهُ، وَكَاتِبَهُ، وَشَاهِدَيْهِ»، وَقَالَ: «هُمْ سَوَاءٌ»".(3/1219، کتاب المساقات،دار احیاء التراث ، بیروت)
Per author Ibn Abi Shaybah:
عن ابن سیرین قال: کل شيء فیه قمار فهو من المیسر".(4/483، کتاب البیوع والأقضیة، ط: مکتبة رشد، ریاض)
Per Fatwa Shamiah:
وَسُمِّيَ الْقِمَارُ قِمَارًا؛ لِأَنَّ كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْ الْمُقَامِرَيْنِ مِمَّنْ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ مَالُهُ إلَى صَاحِبِهِ، وَيَجُوزُ أَنْ يَسْتَفِيدَ مَالَ صَاحِبِهِ وَهُوَ حَرَامٌ بِالنَّصِّ".(6 / 403، کتاب الحظر والاباحۃ)
فقط واللہ سبحانہ اعلم واتم