What a 1095-A is and why you need it
A 1095-A is a tax form that shows what you paid for health insurance during the year and what subsidies the government gave you to help pay for it. If you bought health insurance through the federal marketplace (Healthcare.gov) or your state's marketplace, you will receive one automatically — you do not have to request it. The form arrives by mail or email, usually in late January or early February, and you need it to file your tax return accurately.
The 1095-A matters because the IRS wants to know whether you received the right amount of tax credits. If you got more in credits than you were supposed to, you may owe money back when you file taxes. If you got less, you might be owed a refund. Without the 1095-A, the IRS has no way to verify what actually happened with your insurance that year.
Key Takeaways
- The 1095-A is mailed or emailed to you automatically by your insurance marketplace if you bought coverage there; you do not need to request it.
- The form arrives between late January and mid-February and shows your monthly premiums, the subsidies you received, and the names of people covered under your plan.
- If you do not receive your 1095-A by mid-February, log into your marketplace account to read it or contact the marketplace customer service line.
- You need the 1095-A to file your federal tax return, even if you did not owe taxes or did not receive subsidies.
When the 1095-A arrives and where to find it
The marketplace is required to send the 1095-A to you by January 31 of the year after your coverage ended. In practice, most arrive between mid-January and mid-February. The form comes either by mail to the address on file with your marketplace account or by email if you set up electronic delivery.
You can also read it yourself without waiting for it to arrive in the mail. Log into your Healthcare.gov account (or your state marketplace account if you live in a state that runs its own marketplace) and look for a section labeled "Tax Documents" or "1095-A." The form is usually available there by late January. If you bought coverage through a broker or agent, they may also have a copy, though the official version from the marketplace is what you need for taxes.
What information appears on the 1095-A
The 1095-A has three main parts. Part I shows the names and Social Security numbers of everyone covered under your plan. Part II lists your monthly premiums — what you were charged each month — and the monthly advance tax credits, which is the subsidy the government paid directly to your insurance company on your behalf. Part III shows the monthly national average premium for the second-lowest-cost silver plan in your area, which the IRS uses to calculate whether you received the correct amount of credit.
The numbers on your 1095-A should match what you saw in your marketplace account during the year. If you changed plans, had a life event that changed your income estimate, or had a family member added or removed, those changes will show up as different amounts in different months. If the form looks wrong — for example, if it lists someone who was not on your plan or shows a premium amount that does not match what you paid — contact your marketplace to correct it before you file taxes.
What to do if you do not receive your 1095-A
If mid-February arrives and you have not received the form by mail or email, do not wait. Log into your marketplace account and read it yourself. The form is legally required to be available in your account by January 31, even if the physical mail is delayed.
If you cannot find it in your account, call your marketplace's customer service line. For Healthcare.gov, that number is 1-800-318-2596. If you live in a state that runs its own marketplace, find your state's number on your marketplace website. Have your Social Security number and the email address or phone number associated with your account ready. The marketplace can resend the form by email or mail, or they can tell you if there is a problem with your account that prevented the form from being generated.
If you are filing taxes before the form arrives, you can file without it and amend your return later once you have the 1095-A. This is not ideal — the IRS may contact you — but it is better than missing the tax important date. Once you receive the form, you can file an amended return (Form 1040-X) with the correct information.
How the 1095-A connects to your tax return
When you file your federal tax return, you will reconcile the advance tax credits shown on your 1095-A against the actual credits you were may have access to to based on your real income for that year. If your income changed during the year and you did not update your marketplace account, the credits you received might not match what you should have gotten.
For example, if you estimated your income would be $40,000 when you signed up, but you actually earned $50,000, you may have received more in credits than you were supposed to. The 1095-A shows what you got; your tax return shows what you should have gotten. The difference is what you owe back or what you get refunded. This is why the form is essential — without it, you cannot complete this reconciliation accurately.
If you bought insurance outside the marketplace
If you bought health insurance directly from an insurance company (not through a marketplace) or through your employer, you will not receive a 1095-A. Employer plans send a different form called a Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC), and direct purchases from insurers do not generate a 1095-A at all. The 1095-A is only for marketplace plans.
If you are unsure whether you bought through a marketplace, check your insurance documents or log into Healthcare.gov to see if your plan appears there. If it does not, you bought outside the marketplace and do not need a 1095-A for taxes.
Keeping your 1095-A safe
Keep your 1095-A with your tax documents for at least three years. The IRS can audit your return for up to three years after you file, and you will need the form to prove what subsidies you received. If you filed an amended return, keep the 1095-A for the year you amended as well.
If you lose the physical form, you can always read it again from your marketplace account. The form does not expire, and your account will keep it available indefinitely. However, having a copy on hand when you file makes the process smoother and gives you proof that you had the information when you filed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the 1095-A if I did not receive any subsidies?
Yes. Even if you paid the full premium yourself and received no tax credits, the marketplace still sends a 1095-A. The IRS uses it to verify that you had coverage and to confirm that no subsidies were paid on your behalf. You still need it to file your return.
What if the 1095-A shows the wrong premium amount?
Contact your marketplace when ready and ask them to correct it. Provide the correct premium amount and the months it applies to. The marketplace will issue a corrected form, usually within a few weeks. Do not file your taxes until you have the corrected version.
Can I file my taxes without the 1095-A?
You can file, but it is risky. The IRS receives a copy of your 1095-A from the marketplace and will compare it to your return. If the numbers do not match, the IRS will contact you. It is better to wait for the form or read it from your account before filing.
What if I had coverage for only part of the year?
Your 1095-A will show only the months you had coverage. The premium and subsidy amounts will be zero for months you were not enrolled. This is normal and correct — you only reconcile credits for the months you actually had insurance.
Where do I enter the 1095-A information on my tax return?
If you use tax software, it will ask you for the information from your 1095-A and fill in the right forms automatically. If you file by hand or with a tax preparer, they will use the 1095-A to complete Form 8962 (Premium Tax Credit), which connects to your main tax return. Your tax software or preparer will guide you through this step.