ACA Form 1095-A: Tax Health Insurance Form
What Is Form 1095-A?
Form 1095-A is a tax form that shows your health insurance coverage for the year and the amount of federal tax credits (subsidies) you received.
If you had marketplace health insurance and received tax credits to help pay your premium, the insurance company will send you this form in January or early February each year. You MUST have this form to file your income taxes.
What Information Is on This Form?
The form shows which months of the year you had marketplace coverage (January–December). It will list:
- Months you were covered (all 12 months, or partial year if you enrolled late or lost coverage)
- Plan name and ID number
- Insurance issuer (company name)
Check This: Did you have coverage for the months listed? If you cancelled coverage in June but the form shows you had coverage through December, that's an error. Contact the insurance company.
Monthly Premium: The full cost of your health plan each month (the amount the insurance company charges before any subsidies).
Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC): The amount of the federal subsidy that was paid directly to your insurance company each month. This is the money the government contributed on your behalf.
Your Amount Owed (Premium Responsibility): What you actually paid each month (Premium minus APTC).
Example:
- Monthly Premium: $500
- APTC (tax credit): $350
- Your Amount Owed: $150
Check This: Do the monthly amounts match what you actually paid? If you paid $200/month but the form says $150, there's a discrepancy. The form should reflect what you were charged.
The form lists you and any dependents covered under your plan:
- Your name, Social Security number, and date of birth
- Names, SSNs, and DOBs of covered dependents (spouse, children)
Check This: Are all the names spelled correctly? Are all the dependents listed accurate? If someone is missing or incorrectly listed, contact the insurance company.
How This Affects Your Taxes
When you file your taxes, you MUST complete IRS Form 8962 ("Premium Tax Credit"). This form reconciles your tax credits:
- APTC you received during the year (from 1095-A)
- Your actual income when you file taxes
- Whether you owe the credits back or get a refund
The Reconciliation: The IRS compares what you estimated when you applied to the marketplace versus your actual income. If they match, great — no adjustments. If not:
If You Made MORE Money Than Expected: You may have to repay some or all of the tax credits. Example: You estimated income of $25,000, got $3,000 in credits, but actually made $35,000. You may owe back $500–$1,500 of those credits.
If You Made LESS Money Than Expected: You get an additional refund. Example: You estimated $25,000 but only made $18,000. You may get an additional $500–$1,000 refund.
Important Note on 2026 Taxes: Rules have changed. The "subsidy cliff" — which forced people earning just over 400% of the Federal Poverty Level to repay ALL credits — has been eliminated for tax years 2024–2025. But you should check what the rules are for 2026.
For 2026 Tax Filing (which happens in 2027): Check the IRS website or ask a tax preparer about current repayment limits.
Checking Your 1095-A for Accuracy
- Check Coverage Dates: Did you have insurance for all the months listed? If you cancelled in July, the form shouldn't show August–December.
- Verify Names and SSNs: All names, SSNs, and dates of birth should be accurate and spelled correctly.
- Check Monthly Premiums and Credits: Do they match what you know you paid/received?
- Check Plan Information: Is the plan name and issuer correct?
- Add Up the Annual Numbers: Make sure the total credits for the year match what you expect (monthly amount × 12, roughly).
If Your 1095-A Has an Error
Steps:
- Contact your insurance company directly (not the marketplace)
- Explain the error (wrong month, wrong premium, spelling error, etc.)
- Request a corrected 1095-A form
- Provide documentation supporting the error (letter from company if you lost coverage mid-year, etc.)
- Ask for a corrected form before tax filing season (before April 15)
Timeline: The insurance company should issue a corrected form within 30 days. Keep both the original and corrected forms for your records.
If You Had Marketplace Insurance But Didn't Get the Form:
- Contact the insurance company and ask them to resend it
- If they say they already sent it, check with your mail carrier (it may be lost)
- Ask the insurance company for an electronic copy
- If you still don't have it by April 10, the insurance company may need to file a corrected copy with the IRS
Important: Don't file your taxes without this form if you received marketplace coverage and tax credits. The IRS needs this form to process your return.
Filing Your Taxes with Form 1095-A
What You Need to Do:
- Keep This Form. Don't lose it. You'll need it to file taxes.
- Give It to Your Tax Preparer. If you use a CPA or tax prep service, provide them with this form.
- Complete Form 8962. If filing yourself, you'll need to complete this form to reconcile your credits. It's part of your 1040 tax return.
- File on Time. The normal tax deadline is April 15. Don't miss it, or you may owe penalties.
- Expect an Adjustment. Depending on your actual income versus estimated income, you may owe money back or get an additional refund. This is handled through Form 8962.