# Form 1095-A: How It Works and Who Receives It

![A man with a computer](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/rPBkpYcCuAvBVMxay4DQGxRIQqs=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-2038029632-0466168254d54efe83648f1713b87bab.jpg)

*— Israel Sebastian / Getty Images*

> **Definition**
>
> Form 1095-A is a tax form provided to individuals who obtain health insurance through a Health Insurance Marketplace.

## What Is Form 1095-A: Health Insurance Marketplace Statement?

Every year, the [Health Insurance Marketplace](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/health-insurance-marketplace.asp) sends Form 1095-A to Americans who have health insurance coverage through a carrier on the exchange.

The form serves as a record of healthcare coverage. It includes information such as the effective date of the coverage, the monthly premiums, and any advance payments of the premium [tax credit](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/taxcredit.asp).

You use information from Form 1095-A for your tax return. However, you don't submit Form 1095-A to the [Internal Revenue Service (IRS)](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/irs.asp).

### Key Takeaways

*   If you buy your health insurance through the Marketplace you should receive a Form 1095-A.
*   You don't have to send the form in with your tax return.
*   However, if you are eligible for a tax credit, you need to transfer that information to Form 8962 and include it with your tax return.

## Who Receives Form 1095-A?

You will receive Form 1095-A if you enrolled in a qualified health plan via the federal Health Insurance Marketplace or a state's exchange. The exchanges use the form to provide participants with information about their coverage.

You do not have to submit Form 1095-A to the IRS. However, on your tax return, you do have to provide information from the form and/or acknowledge that you've received it.

If you're eligible for a premium tax credit, you may have to attach a related form, Form 8962: Premium Tax Credit.

You should keep Form 1095-A for your records.

> **Important**
>
> As a result of the American Rescue Plan of 2021, all taxpayers with insurance bought on the ACA Marketplace are now eligible for a premium tax credit. Previously, filers were ineligible if their income exceeded 400% of the federal poverty line.

## How to Use Form 1095-A

When preparing your tax return, you or your tax preparer will use 1095-A to fill out Form 8962: Premium Tax Credit if you are eligible to receive the credit.

According to the IRS, if you are expecting to receive a Form 1095-A, you should wait to file your income [tax return](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/taxreturn.asp) until you receive it. Because it deals with claiming or reporting tax credits, which in turn affects the amount of income tax you owe or any refunds you are due, 1095-A is crucial in the filing process.

Taxpayers should receive a Form 1095-A by mid-January of the year following the coverage year, either by mail or in their Healthcare.gov accounts. Individuals who don't receive their forms or see inaccuracies in them can contact HealthCare.gov directly.

The form lists each month for which you received coverage and the amount you paid in premiums. It also contains personal information including your name, address, and [Social Security number](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/ssn.asp). Your policy number and insurance company name also appear on the form.

![Form 1095-A](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/5VJU3DqXIBvADekYjCpd1prfRqM=/1016x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ScreenShot2025-03-06at1.40.42PM-a6039205b2fa4442a89ac14ad9804b84.png)

**

_The complete 1095-A is available [on the IRS website](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1095a.pdf)._

### Note

A penalty for [taxpayers](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/taxpayer.asp) who are not covered by health insurance was abolished at the start of 2019.

## Who Gets 1095-A?

Americans who signed up for healthcare via the Health Insurance Marketplace should receive a Form 1095-A. It should either arrive in the mail or be available online at Healthcare.gov.

## What Do I Do With Form 1095-A?

If you are eligible for a premium tax credit, you need to transfer information from Form 1095-A to Form 8962 and include it with your tax return. You don't need to send form 1095-A to the IRS.

## When Should I Receive Form 1095-A?

You should receive a Form 1095-A by mid-January of the year following the coverage year, either by mail or online, in your Healthcare.gov account. If you don't receive your form, or there is a mistake on it, you can [contact Healthcare.gov directly](https://www.healthcare.gov/contact-us/).

## The Bottom Line

If you have healthcare through the exchange, the Health Insurance Marketplace should send you Form 1095-A by mid-January of the year following your coverage year. It is a record of key information about your health insurance coverage.

You don't need to send form 1095-A as part of your tax return. However, if you are eligible for a premium tax credit, you need to copy the relevant information to Form 8962 and include it with your tax return.

> **Article Sources**
>
> 1.  Internal Revenue Service. "[Health Insurance Marketplace Statements](https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/individuals-and-families/health-insurance-marketplace-statements)."
>     
> 2.  Internal Revenue Service. "[The Health Insurance Marketplace](https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/individuals-and-families/the-health-insurance-marketplace)."
>     
> 3.  U.S. Congress. "[H.R.1319 - American Rescue Plan of 2021](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319)."
>     
> 4.  Internal Revenue Service. "[Eligibility for the Premium Tax Credit](https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/individuals-and-families/eligibility-for-the-premium-tax-credit)."
>     
> 5.  Internal Revenue Service. "[Corrected, Incorrect or Voided Forms 1095-A](https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/corrected-incorrect-or-voided-forms-1095-a)."
>     
> 6.  HealthCare.gov. ”[No Health Insurance? See if You'll Owe a Fee](https://www.healthcare.gov/fees/fee-for-not-being-covered).”