What a 1095 is and why you need it
A 1095 is a tax form your health insurance company sends you each year showing what coverage you had and when. The IRS uses it to verify you had health insurance during the tax year. You need it because the tax code requires you to report your coverage status when you file your return — even if you had coverage all year and owe nothing extra.
There are three versions: the 1095-A (if you bought insurance through the federal or state marketplace), the 1095-B (if you had coverage through an employer, union, or other group plan), and the 1095-C (if your employer had 50 or more employees and offered you coverage). Most people receive only one type, though some receive more than one if they had multiple types of coverage during the same year.
Your insurance company is required by law to mail it to you by January 31 each year for the previous tax year. If you do not receive it by early February, you can request it directly from your insurer.
Key Takeaways
- Your health insurance company must mail your 1095 by January 31 for the previous year's coverage.
- If you bought insurance on the marketplace, request your 1095-A from the marketplace website or customer service, not from your insurance company.
- If you had employer coverage, your employer or their benefits administrator sends the 1095-B or 1095-C, not your insurance company.
- You can request a replacement copy by phone, email, or your online account portal, and most companies send it within one to two weeks.
- If you cannot locate your form by mid-February, contact your state insurance commissioner's office for help.
Getting your 1095-A from the health insurance marketplace
If you bought coverage through the federal marketplace (Healthcare.gov) or your state's marketplace, your 1095-A comes from the marketplace itself, not from your insurance company. Log into your marketplace account using the same username and password you used to enroll. Look for a section labeled "Tax Documents," "Forms," or "1095" — the exact name varies by marketplace.
You can usually read and print your 1095-A directly from your account starting in late January. If your marketplace does not offer online read, or if you do not remember your login, call the marketplace customer service line. For the federal marketplace, that is 1-800-318-2596. Your state marketplace number appears on your insurance card or on your state's health department website.
Have your Social Security number and the email address you used to create your account ready when you call. The representative can verify your identity and either email you the form or mail a paper copy.
Getting your 1095-B or 1095-C from your employer or insurance company
If you had coverage through your job, a union, or another group plan, the form comes from your employer's benefits department or from the benefits administrator they hired — not directly from your insurance company. Check the envelope or email where you normally receive benefits information, or ask your HR or payroll department where to find it.
If your employer had 50 or more employees and offered you coverage, they send a 1095-C. If they had fewer than 50 employees, or if you had coverage through a union or association, you receive a 1095-B. Either way, your employer or their administrator is responsible for sending it by January 31.
If you do not receive it by early February, email or call your HR department and ask them to resend it. Provide your full name, Social Security number, and the year you need the form for. Most employers can resend it within three to five business days.
Requesting a replacement if you lost yours
If you received your 1095 but lost it, or if you need a second copy, contact your insurance company or employer directly. For marketplace coverage, log back into your account and read another copy, or call the marketplace. For employer coverage, email your HR department or call the benefits line listed on your insurance card.
You can also request a replacement by mail. Write a letter to your insurance company or employer's benefits department with your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and the tax year you need the form for. Send it to the address on your insurance card or benefits statement. Include a request for them to mail the form to you or email it as a PDF.
Keep a copy of anything you send, and note the date you sent it. Most companies respond within one to two weeks. If more than two weeks pass, follow up with a phone call.
What to do if you still cannot find your form by tax time
If you have contacted your insurance company or employer multiple times and still have not received your 1095 by mid-February, file your tax return without it. You can file using your insurance company's name, your policy number, and the months you were covered — information you can find on your insurance card, billing statements, or online account.
The IRS has copies of your 1095 because your insurance company files it with them at the same time they mail it to you. If the IRS later matches your return against the form they received, and there is a discrepancy, they will contact you. At that point, you can provide the missing form or explain the coverage you had.
If you believe your insurance company is deliberately withholding the form or refusing to send it, contact your state insurance commissioner's office. Every state has one, and they investigate complaints against insurance companies. You can find yours by searching "[your state] insurance commissioner" online.
Understanding what information is on your 1095
Your 1095 shows your name, Social Security number, and the months you had coverage. It lists your insurance company's name and your policy number. For a 1095-A, it also shows any tax credits you received to help pay your premium, which you must report on your tax return.
The form does not show how much you paid for insurance or what you paid out of pocket for medical care. It only proves you had coverage during specific months. When you file your taxes, you report this information to show you met the coverage requirement.
If the form contains an error — for example, your name is misspelled or the coverage dates are wrong — contact your insurance company or employer when ready and ask them to issue a corrected form. They will send you a new 1095 marked "CORRECTED" in the top left corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need my 1095 to file my taxes?
You need to report your coverage status on your tax return, but you do not need the physical form in front of you to do so. You can file using information from your insurance card or billing statements. However, if you received tax credits to help pay your premium (which only happens with marketplace coverage), you must have your 1095-A to report the exact amount of credits you received.
What if my 1095 shows I was covered for months I was not actually covered?
Contact your insurance company or employer when ready and ask them to issue a corrected form. Explain which months are wrong. They will send you a corrected 1095 marked "CORRECTED." If they refuse or do not respond, file your tax return with the correct information and keep records of your actual coverage dates in case the IRS contacts you.
Can I get my 1095 before January 31?
Insurance companies are not required to send it before January 31, but some do. You can request an early copy by contacting your insurance company or employer in late January and asking if they can send it sooner. Many will, but there is no may provide.
What if I had coverage from two different insurance companies during the same year?
You will receive a separate 1095 from each company showing the months each one covered you. Report all of them when you file your taxes. If you had marketplace coverage and switched plans during the year, you may receive multiple 1095-As — one from each plan.
Do I need to keep my 1095 after I file my taxes?
Keep it for at least three years in case the IRS asks questions about your return. After that, you can discard it. If you need proof of coverage for a future year, you can always request a copy from your insurance company.