This post was originally published in January 2017, and updated in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
If you had health insurance during 2020, you can expect to receive IRS Form 1095 in January or February of 2021.
The 1095 is your proof of coverage.
If you have not received it by mid-February, please contact either the Marketplace, your insurance carrier, or your plan sponsor, depending on how you got your coverage in 2020 (see below).
Which 1095 Will I Receive?
You will receive either the 1095-A, 1095-B, or 1095-C, based upon how you got your insurance in 2020:
IRS 1095-A – If you purchased family or individual coverage through your state’s Marketplace (on-exchange). The Marketplace will send the Form 1095-A.
IRS 1095-B – If you purchased family or individual coverage outside the Marketplace (off-exchange) or if you were covered on your employer’s plan (most employers). Your insurance company will send the Form 1095-B.
IRS 1095-C – If you were covered on a fully insured large group or self-funded employer-sponsored health plan. Your employer or plan sponsor will send the Form 1095-C.
Do I Need my 1095 to File My Taxes?
If you had a policy through the Marketplace, you do need your Form 1095-A to file your 2020 federal income tax return.
You do not need your Form 1095-B or 1095-C to file your return. It is for your records.
What Else do I Need?
You may also need to file one of the following with your 2020 federal income tax:
IRS 8962 If you collected a government subsidy to help pay for coverage.
IRS 8965 If you were exempt from the requirement to have health insurance in 2016.
Tax Penalty
The tax penalty for not having insurance has been removed.
It is best to consult a tax professional for specific tax advice.
Please see below for specific information about each tax form:
IRS Form 1095-A – Health Insurance Marketplace Statement
You will receive Form 1095-A from the Marketplace if you purchased health insurance in 2020 through your state’s exchange (aka Marketplace).
Form 1095-A includes information about your coverage, who was covered, and when.
Part I of Form 1095-A includes details about you — your name, SSN, date of birth, etc. — and your 2020 coverage — the state where you bought it, the name of the insurance company, and the dates your coverage started and ended.
Part II lists the members of your household covered on your plan. Only those people who you told the Marketplace you would claim on your tax return will be listed here.
Part III details the following, by month:
- The premium you paid
- The premium of the second lowest cost silver plan (this will be used when you file your return to help calculate whether or not you received the right amount of subsidy)
- The amount of subsidy you received (referred to by the IRS as a premium tax credit or PTC).
Line 33 of Part III includes the sum of each column, giving you the annual totals of each — this will come in handy when you’re ready to file!
You will use the data included on Form 1095-A to complete Form 8962 — Premium Tax Credit (PTC).
IRS Form 1095-B – Health Coverage
You will receive Form 1095-B from your insurance carrier if you were covered in 2020 by a health insurance plan purchased outside of the Marketplace (“off-exchange”) or if you were covered on a group plan.
The 1095-B details who in your household had coverage during 2020 and when. It also lists the employer (if an employer-sponsored plan) and the health insurance carrier for your coverage.
You do not need to attach the 1095-B to your tax return.
IRS Form 1095-C – Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage
You will receive a Form 1095-C from your employer or plan sponsor if you were employed by a large employer (one with 50 or more FTE employees) or by an employer who self-insures.
This form contains information about what coverage the employer offered, who was covered, and when. If you waived coverage, you will get Form 1095-C from your employer, showing that you were offered coverage.
IRS Form 8962 – Premium Tax Credit (PTC)
If you received a 1095-A, you must complete Form 8962 and submit it with your Form 1040, 1040A or 1040NR when you file your 2020 taxes.
The IRS will use Form 8962 to reconcile whether you received too much or too little in the way of a premium subsidy for your health insurance in 2020. If you collected too much, you may need to pay some or all of the money back. If you did not collect enough, you may get money back.
You also must file Form 8962 if you were eligible for a PTC but did not collect the subsidy in advance, and now want to claim it.
IRS Form 8965 – Health Coverage Exemptions
Most Americans are required by law to have health insurance. This is called the individual mandate and is a provision of the Affordable Care Act.
If you did not purchase health insurance in 2020 because you are exempt from the individual mandate, you must complete IRS Form 8965.
Important: if you have a Marketplace-granted coverage exemption you must provide an Exemption Certificate Number on Form 8965. It takes some time for the Marketplace to process exemptions, so don’t delay in submitting your request!
Please consult a tax professional for specific tax advice.
