Q&A: Tax Forms 1095-A, 1095-B & 1095-C

Because of the health care law, you might receive some forms early in the year providing information about the health coverage you had or were offered in the previous year. The information below is intended to help individuals understand these forms, including who should expect to receive them and what to do with them.

Please note that this is a Q&A provided directly from the IRS and is not meant to be exhaustive.

The Basics

Q1: Will I receive any health care tax forms every year to help me complete my tax return?

A1: By early February, you may receive one or more forms providing information about the health care coverage that you had or were offered during the previous year. Much like Form W-2 and Form 1099, which include information about the income you received, these health care forms provide information that you may need when you file your individual income tax return. Like Forms W-2 and 1099, these forms will be provided to the IRS by the entity that provides the form to you.

The forms are:

• Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement. The Health Insurance Marketplace (Marketplace) sends this form to individuals who enrolled in coverage there, with information about the coverage, who was covered, and when.
• Form 1095-B, Health Coverage. Health insurance providers (for example, health insurance companies) send this form to individuals they cover, with information about who was covered and when.
• Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage. Certain employers send this form to certain employees, with information about what coverage the employer offered. Employers that offer health coverage referred to as “selfinsured coverage” send this form to individuals they cover, with information about who was covered and when.

Q2: When will I receive these health tax forms?

A2: The annual deadline for the Marketplace to provide Form 1095-A is January 31. The deadline for insurers, other coverage providers and certain employers to provide Forms 1095-B and 1095-C to individuals is January 31.

Q3: Must I wait to file my taxes until I receive these forms?

A3: If you are expecting to receive a Form 1095-A, you should wait to file your income tax return until you receive that form. However, it is not necessary to wait for Forms 1095-B or 1095-C in order to file.

Some taxpayers may not receive a Form 1095-B or Form 1095-C by the time they are ready to file their tax return. While the information on these forms may assist in preparing a return, they are not required. Individual taxpayers should not wait for these forms and file their returns as they normally would.

Like last year, taxpayers can prepare and file their returns using other information about their health insurance. You should not attach any of these forms to your tax return.

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Managing Chronic Conditions

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6 in 10 adults have a chronic disease—and 4 in 10 have two or more. Major chronic diseases in America include heart disease, cancer and diabetes. If you’re coping with a chronic condition, you can take charge and manage it with these strategies:

• Study your chronic disease. The more you know about your condition, the better you’ll be able to understand and make treatment decisions. Lean on trusted and science-backed sources.
• Build your team. Seek out experts to provide guidance and support on certain aspects of your health. Your primary care physician can help piece everything together from specialists and nurses.
• Keep up with your medications. If you’re having trouble managing your medications during the pandemic, consider pharmacies with a drive-thru option or sign up for a mail-order pharmacy.
• Commit to healthy lifestyle habits. Many chronic diseases are caused by tobacco and alcohol use, poor nutrition and physical inactivity.
• Control your stress. Fear and anxiety are natural, especially after a diagnosis. However, stress can take a toll on your emotional and physical health, so managing your stress in healthy ways is crucial.

In a time when health care costs are rising at a rapid rate, it’s crucial that you do your part to keep chronic conditions at bay or effectively manage them.

The Basics of Vision Insurance

Vision coverage, a common voluntary benefit, is similar to regular medical insurance. Vision coverage is available in two basic types of plans:

• Vision benefits plan—This type of plan is regular insurance coverage, and coverage may differ between in- and out-of-network providers. You’ll typically pay a portion of your eye care cost through a deductible and coinsurance or copayments.
• Discount vision plan—With this option, you can choose to reduce vision care costs without regular insurance coverage. You pay for all your vision care at a reduced rate.

Routine eye exams can help maintain your vision and detect eye problems and overall health concerns. Obtaining vision insurance is a way to ensure you can continue enjoying good eye health and the sights around you.

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