Form 1095-A: Is It Required to File My Taxes?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) helps people receive affordable health insurance through tax subsidies such as the premium tax credit (PTC). This credit allows eligible individuals and family members to receive financial assistance during the year to reduce the cost of monthly insurance premiums.

You can also wait until tax time to receive your benefits. The PTC is a refundable credit that can reduce your tax bill or increase your tax refund. To receive this credit, you’ll need your Form 1095-A. This form will give you all the information needed to complete Form 8962 and claim your tax credit.

Below, we review how Form 1095-A works and how you can use it to claim the premium tax credit.

What is Form 1095-A used for?

You’ll receive Form 1095-A if you or a member of your household purchased health insurance through a state or federal healthcare exchange. This is also known as a health insurance marketplace. Look for Form 1095-A if you had marketplace coverage during the previous year.

You’ll need Form 1095-A to get the benefits of the premium tax credit using Form 8962. You’ll also need Form 1095-A if you received advance PTC payments during the previous year. The advance payments reduce your out-of-pocket costs for insurance every month.

You do not need to submit Form 1095-A to the IRS when you file your taxes. The health insurance marketplace will send copies of the form to you and the IRS. Form 1095-A is an informational form to help you submit an accurate tax return.

What information is on Form 1095-A?

Form 1095-A contains three parts. Each part of the form will provide you with information needed to fill out Form 8962 and claim your premium tax credit.

The first part of your statement contains information about you and your insurance coverage. Here is the information you’ll find in Part 1:

• Basic household information

• Information about the insurance company that provided you with coverage

• Health insurance policy start date

• Health insurance policy end date

• Marketplace policy number

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Did you receive Form 1095-B? Find out why you may need Form 1095-B and how it works.

• Got a health savings account (HSA)? You may receive these tax forms. 

• Got medical expenses? Here’s a list of medical expenses you may be able to deduct on your tax return if you meet the requirements.

Part 2 will provide you with a list of people in your household who are covered under an ACA marketplace plan. Here is the information you’ll find in Part 2:

• Covered individual’s name and Social Security number

• Covered individual’s date of birth

• Coverage start date

• Coverage end date

Part 3 will provide more details about your coverage during the year. You’ll find the following information:

• Monthly premiums: This includes total insurance premiums you paid and advance payments that were paid on your behalf.

• Dates of insurance coverage: You will see the coverage amount for every month you were enrolled in a health insurance marketplace plan.

• Second-lowest-cost Silver plan (SLCSP) premium: You can use the HealthCare.gov tax tool to find your SLCSP. This number is used to compute your premium tax credit.

• Advance payments of premium tax credit: This column will show the amount of advance payments that were submitted on your behalf to cover the cost of monthly insurance premiums.

Where do you get Form 1095-A?

You won’t receive Form 1095-A from the IRS. The health insurance marketplace will send you this form if you had a marketplace plan in the prior year. You’ll also receive the form if a member of your household was covered under a marketplace plan.

You should receive Form 1095-A in the mail by mid-February. The deadline to file your individual income tax return is April 15 unless you get an extension.

If you misplaced your Form 1095-A or don’t receive it in the mail, you may be able to access it by logging in to your HealthCare.gov account. Your form may be available as early as January if you retrieve it online.

How do you get Form 1095-A online?

If you bought health insurance through the federal marketplace, you can get Form 1095-A from your HealthCare.gov account. Here are the steps you can take to access your form through the federal marketplace: 

1. Go to HealthCare.gov, and sign in to your account.

2. Select your Marketplace application for the correct tax year.

3. Look for a section called Tax Forms, Documents, or Messages.

4. Find Form 1095-A (Health Insurance Marketplace Statement).

5. Download or print a copy for your records.

If you don’t see your Form 1095-A right away, check back later. Marketplace forms are often posted in January or early February.

If you purchased coverage through a state marketplace, you may also be able to get Form 1095-A online. Here’s what to do to access your form through the state marketplace:

1. Log in to your state marketplace account.

2. Look for a section labeled Tax Forms, Notices, or Documents.

3. Download Form 1095-A if it’s available.

Each state has its own system, so the exact steps may vary. If you can’t find your form online, your marketplace website should list a phone number or help center where you can request a copy.

What do you do with a Form 1095-A?

When you receive your health insurance marketplace statement, make sure all the information is correct. If anything is inaccurate, contact the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 to get an updated Form 1095-A.

After you confirm all information, you’ll use your Form 1095-A to fill out Form 8962. This will help you claim your premium tax credit. Your Form 1095-A will let you compare the amount of premium tax credit you received in the previous year with the amount you were qualified to receive.

Your Form 1095-A is yours to keep. You do not need to submit it with your tax return.

Form 1095-A and similar tax forms

Form 1095-A isn’t the only health insurance-related tax form you may receive during tax season. Depending on how you got health coverage and whether you received financial help paying for it, other forms may provide coverage details or help calculate tax credits.

The chart below explains the most common health insurance tax forms, who receives them, and how to get a copy. 

What happens if you don’t file your Form 8962?

Your Form 1095-A will help you reconcile advance PTCs you received during the year with the amount you were eligible to receive. If you do not reconcile those payments on your tax return, you will not be eligible for PTCs in the next year. You also won’t be eligible for cost-sharing reductions and will be responsible for paying 100% of your monthly premiums and all covered services in the future.

You should not file your taxes without Form 1095-A. Wait for your form to arrive in the mail, or log in to your HealthCare.gov account to find it.

If you file your taxes before reviewing Form 1095-A, you may need to submit an amended tax return. If there are discrepancies on your tax return, you may have to pay back some or all of the advance payments of the PTC you received during the year. Remember, Form 1095-A is an informational return used to complete Form 8962. You do not need to submit Form 1095-A with your tax return.

How long do you need to keep your Form 1095-A?

Although you do not need to submit Form 1095-A to the IRS, you should still keep it with your tax records for at least 3 years. This will provide you with proof in case the IRS audits your return.

Can you get your Form 1095-A online?

Yes. You can access your Form 1095-A by logging in to your HealthCare.gov account. Here’s how to get your Form 1095-A online through HealthCare.gov:

• Log in to your account. If you don’t remember your health insurance marketplace login information, click “Forgot your username?” or “Forgot your password?” Your username may be your email address.

• Click on the 2024 application if you are trying to find the relevant information for your 2024 tax return.

• Select “Tax forms,” located on the left side of the screen.

• Click on “Form 1095-A.”

• Save the PDF, and print it.

You may notice multiple 1095-A forms listed under your account. This may be the case if your household enrolled in more than one marketplace insurance plan. This will also happen if you reported changes during the year, such as a switch in health insurance plans or updates to your household information.

If you need assistance finding your 1095-A form online, you can review the screen-by-screen directions and pictures on the healthcare.gov website. You can also call the marketplace call center at 1-800-318-2596.

What’s the difference between Form 1095-A and Form 1095-B?

Form 1095-A is the health insurance marketplace statement. This form shows you details about health coverage that you or a family member may have received from the marketplace. Form 1095-A will help you complete Form 8962. This will help you claim your PTC benefits on your tax return. You should not file your tax return before you receive and verify the information on your Form 1095-A.

Form 1095-B is used to report and confirm that you had the minimum required insurance coverage during the year. Health insurance providers will send this form to covered individuals by early February. This coverage can include information about the following:

• Employer-sponsored health plans

• Medicaid

• Medicare Part A

• Children’s Health Insurance Program

• Individual marketplace plans

You may get multiple 1095-B forms if you switched jobs or changed coverage during the year. You do not need to wait for your forms to file your tax return. Form 1095-B is typically not needed for your federal income taxes.

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Written by:

Charlene Rhinehart, CPA

Charlene Rhinehart, CPA, is a personal finance editor at GoodRx. She has been a certified public accountant for over a decade.

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