If you enrolled or renewed your coverage for 2021, now is a great time to learn how to get the most value from your health care coverage. Explore the resources available to help you maximize your 2021 health care coverage.
If you were covered by a Marketplace plan in 2020, you will need two important forms to complete and file your 2020 tax return. If you were uninsured in 2020, the fee is $695 per adult and $347.50 per child up to a maximum of $2,085 or 2.5% of your annual household income above the tax filing threshold, whichever is more. You may qualify for an exemption from the fee if you meet certain requirements.
The 2021 Open Enrollment period ended on December 15, 2020.
As a result, you cannot sign up for health care coverage until the 2022 Open Enrollment period UNLESS you become eligible for a [PDF] Special Enrollment Period.
You must experience a qualifying life event — like getting married, having or adopting a baby, losing your current health coverage — in order to be eligible. If you have a qualifying event, you may be eligible to enroll during the 2021 Special Enrollment Period (SEP).
As always, one-on-one help is still available! You will have someone who will help you every step of the way. Located throughout the state, application assisters are highly trained and know all about how to enroll in and renew health care coverage. Use the locator to find help in your area. Their services are at no-cost: you do not have to pay for their help!
I want to learn more about my health care coverage
I want to know what I need to file my 2020 taxes
I want to learn about the 2021 Special Enrollment Period
I want to find someone to help me
Your health care coverage provides you access to health care providers — like physicians, specialists, labs and hospitals — to receive the medical care you need. Many plans require that you pick one doctor – an internist, general practitioner or family practitioner -- to serve as your main doctor, called your Primary Care Physician (PCP). If you have children, you can select a pediatrician for your children. This one doctor will be the first one you call when you need regular medical care. Your PCP may treat you or may refer you to another doctor called a specialist if you need a specific type of care. Your PCP also will coordinate your care if you need medical tests or procedures or need to be treated in the hospital. Building a good relationship with your main doctor will help you make the most of your coverage.
Leave the emergency room for emergencies! Your main doctor (PCP) will be the best place to get care if you are not feeling well. If you have a cold, sore throat, or similar illness that is not life-threatening, call your main doctor. You will pay less for the visit and your main doctor will know you better than the emergency room doctors. If you go to the emergency room and you do not have an emergency, they will take sicker patients first. You might have to wait a long time to be seen. Then, after you are seen, you will have to pay more for the [PDF] emergency room visit than you would if you saw your main doctor.
One-on-one help is available! Assisters are available to help you understand how to use your health care coverage. They are a great, knowledgeable and trusted source of information.
Here is a [PDF] written guide that can help you learn more about your coverage.
If you prefer to watch videos, click on the links below to learn more about your health care coverage.
- My New Health Plan
- Understand the Plan
- Words to Know
- Where to Go for Care
- Finding a Doctor (Provider)
- Making an Appointment
- Almost Ready
- My First Visit
- Like or Dislike
- The Day After
- The Final Word
In addition to reporting your income and deductions for 2020, now you will report whether you had health care coverage during 2020 as well.
Use this [PDF] tax preparation checklist to gather the documents you will need to complete your taxes.
If you had health care coverage through the Marketplace, you will receive Form 1095-A in the mail from the Marketplace in early February. You can also download a version by logging into your account on healthcare.gov.
The 1095-A will provide important information you need to complete your taxes:
- The number of months you had coverage through the marketplace
- The amounts you paid in premiums
- Advanced premium tax credits (APTC) that you received
The amount of premium tax credits you are eligible for will be calculated by your tax preparer or the tax preparation software you use.
If you received more tax credits than you earned, you will have to repay those. If you received less, you may be entitled to a refund.
You may have to file Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit Form, when submitting your taxes.
If you did not have health care coverage for part of 2020, you probably will need to file Form 8965. This form will show whether you will have to pay the fee for not having health care. For 2020, the fee is $695 per adult and $347.50 per child up to a maximum of $2,085 or 2.5% of your annual income above the tax filing threshold, whichever is more.
You may qualify for an exemption from the fee
if you meet certain requirements.
Of course, help is available! You can visit IRS.gov/freefile and IRS.gov/VITA to learn about support and filing options available to you.
You can talk with an application assister, but application assisters cannot prepare your taxes or give tax advice. They can help you get ready to have your taxes done and can answer questions from your tax preparer. You also can call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325)
Application Assisters are available to talk with you and help you find out if you can still enroll. Click on the link to find an Assister today!
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