Blue Cross Blue Shield: Private Insurance And Tax Forms

Blue Cross Blue Shield is a private health insurance provider. If you bought your health plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace, you can visit the Marketplace website for Form 1095-A details. If you have a Blue Cross Blue Shield health plan through your job, your employer may have sent you Form 1095-C. The 1095 tax forms provide proof that you and your family had health insurance during the year.

Blue Cross Blue Shield is private insurance

For example, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) state that, due to tax law changes, the IRS no longer requires Form 1095-B when filing federal income taxes if the policyholder bought their health plan on the BCBSTX or BCBSIL website or obtained their health plan through their job. However, the policyholder can still choose to submit this form if they wish.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) also states that Form 1095-B is no longer required as proof of health insurance for the individual mandate. Nevertheless, policyholders can still obtain a copy of this form if desired.

It is always recommended to consult with a tax advisor for specific guidance on tax requirements and how they apply to your personal circumstances.

You don't need Form 1095-B for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas or Illinois

If you are a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas or Illinois member, you do not need Form 1095-B to file your federal income taxes. This is due to recent tax law changes, as confirmed by the IRS. This applies to you if you bought your health plan on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas or Illinois website or if you got your health plan through your job.

Form 1095-B was created to show proof of health insurance for the individual mandate, which no longer exists. Therefore, you won't need this document for tax filing, but you can still choose to submit it. If you would like to request a copy of your Form 1095-B, you can do so by phone, mail, or email.

For Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas members, call the number listed on your member ID card, or 1-855-710-6984. You can also send a completed 1095-B Request Form by mail or email to the following:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas

C/o 1095-B Form Request

PO Box 660044

Dallas, TX 75266-0044

Email: [email protected]

For Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois members, you can follow similar steps. Call the number on the back of your member ID card or 1-855-710-6984. You can also send a completed 1095-B Request Form by mail or email to the following:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois

C/o 1095-B Form Request

PO Box 660044

Dallas, TX 75266-0044

Email: [email protected]

Please note that when sending personal information via email, there is a risk to the privacy and integrity of your data as it may pass through unsecured networks. If you have further questions about your taxes, it is recommended to consult your tax advisor or visit the IRS website.

You can still request a copy of Form 1095-B

If you bought your health plan on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield website or got your health plan through your job, you won't need Form 1095-B for your tax filing. However, you can still request and submit it. Here are four ways to ask for your Form 1095-B:

• Blue Access for Members (BAM): Sign up or log in to BAM, then visit "My Account" and select "Forms and Documents" to download your Form 1095-B.
• Phone: Call the number listed on your member ID card to request that your Form 1095-B be mailed to your address on file within 30 days. If you can't find this number, you can also call 1-855-710-6984.
• Mail: Print and fill out the 1095-B Request Form, then mail it to the specified address. Once your form is received, your Form 1095-B will be mailed to your address on file within 30 days.
• Email: Fill out the 1095-B Request Form and attach the completed form to an email. Send this email to the specified address. Once your form is received, your Form 1095-B will be mailed to your address on file within 30 days.

Please note that you may not receive Form 1095-B automatically as you did in the past. The form is not required for tax filing, but it is recommended to keep it with your tax records in case you need to provide proof of your health care coverage.

Form 1095-A is used to claim the premium tax credit

If you bought health insurance through one of the Health Care Exchanges, also known as Marketplaces, you should receive a Form 1095-A. This form provides information about your insurance policy, the cost you pay for insurance, and the people in your household covered by the policy. It also includes any advance payment of premium tax credits you used to pay for health insurance.

Form 1095-A is used to reconcile Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC) and to claim Premium Tax Credits (PTC) on your federal tax returns. You can use the information on Form 1095-A to complete Form 8962, which you can file with your tax return to claim the premium tax credit. This form will tell you if you have any premium tax credit left over, which you could use to reduce your taxes or receive a refund.

The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, requires most U.S. residents to have health insurance. However, it also offers a tax break, the premium tax credit, to help offset the costs of health coverage for those who qualify. If you bought your health insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace, you should receive Form 1095-A, which provides the information needed to claim this tax credit.

To find your Form 1095-A online, log into your Marketplace account. Under "Your Applications," select your 2023 application—not your 2024 application. Then, select "Tax Forms" and download all 1095-As.

It's important to note that you must have your Form 1095-A before you file your taxes. Don't file your taxes until you have an accurate 1095-A form.

Form 1095-C is proof you met the Affordable Care Act requirements

Blue Cross and Blue Shield is a private health insurance company. If you bought your health plan on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield website or got your health plan through your job, you no longer need Form 1095-B to file your federal income taxes. However, you may still choose to submit it.

Form 1095-C, on the other hand, is a tax form that reports your health care coverage month by month from the previous calendar year. Certain employers send this form to certain employees, providing information about what health coverage the employer offered. This includes information on whether you enrolled in this coverage.

Form 1095-C is important because it serves as proof that you met the Affordable Care Act requirements. The Affordable Care Act mandates that every person must obtain health insurance or pay a penalty to the IRS. This form indicates whether you and/or your family members had health coverage during each month of the past year.

You don't need Form 1095-C to file your taxes, but when you do file, you must tell the IRS whether or not you had health insurance for each month. You can simply check a box on your tax return to attest that you, your spouse (if filing jointly), and any eligible dependents had “minimum essential coverage” throughout the year. However, there are a couple of circumstances in which you would need the information on Form 1095-C to file your Individual Income Tax Return. Firstly, if you received an advance premium tax credit or wish to take the premium tax credit on your return, you will need this form. Secondly, if you had a gap in coverage of more than three consecutive months, you will need the information on Form 1095-C.

In summary, Form 1095-C is not always necessary for filing taxes, but it can be helpful in certain situations and serves as proof that you met the Affordable Care Act requirements.

Frequently asked questions