If you’re enrolled in a 2016 health insurance plan, here’s what you need to know to about getting the full benefit of your health coverage and keeping it up to date.

4 health insurance tips to use all year

1. Pay your first month’s premium to your plan if you haven’t already. You must pay it each month to keep your health insurance benefits.
2. Submit any missing documents. If you get a notice saying there are data matching issues or "inconsistencies" in your application, some information you provided doesn’t match our records. To avoid losing your health coverage or savings, follow the directions in the notice and submit documents.
3. Update your income and information if it changes. Report any life changes — like changes in income, household size, or residence, or other coverage offers — as soon as they happen. These changes may affect your insurance coverage or savings — and your tax bill next year.
4. Be sure to file your 2015 taxes. If you had a 2015 plan with a premium tax credit, you must file a 2015 federal income tax return. If you don’t, you may lose any savings you’re getting on a 2016 plan.

Didn’t enroll in a 2016 health insurance plan?

Open Enrollment for a 2017 health plan begins on November 1. But if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, or Medicaid or CHIP, you can apply for 2016 coverage now.

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Don’t forget to use your health insurance tax form to file your 2015 federal income taxes! The 1095 tax forms you’ll need depend on whether you had health insurance coverage through the Marketplace or another source, like your job.

If you had 2015 health coverage

• If you had Marketplace coverage with savings or without savings: Use Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement. If you received savings, you’ll use this form to "reconcile" your premium tax credit based on your final 2015 income. Don’t file your taxes until you have an accurate 1095-A.

• If you had health coverage through your job, a retiree health plan, the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), or COBRA: Use Form 1095-B, Health Coverage or Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage. You should have it by the first week of April, but if you don’t, you can file without it.

• If you had other coverage, like Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP): Use Form 1095-B, Health Coverage. If you don’t get the form by the first week in April, don’t worry. Some insurance providers don’t provide the form to their customers, but do send a copy to the IRS. You don’t need to have one to file your taxes.

If you didn’t have 2015 health insurance

If you weren’t enrolled in a health plan that qualifies as minimum essential coverage for all or part of 2015, you must either claim a health coverage exemption or pay a fee with your federal income tax return.

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Congratulations on enrolling in 2016 health coverage! Now that you’re covered, here are a few tips to help you stay healthy and get the care you need.

3 ways to use your health insurance to stay healthy

• Find a doctor and get medical care: If you don’t have a doctor, check your plan to find one in your network. If you get medical services from a provider in your plan’s network, you’ll pay lower prices than you would without insurance. That can save you hundreds of dollars per year, even if you don’t meet your deductible.
• Learn about your prescription benefits: Health plans help pay the cost of certain prescription medications. Some plans offer reduced prices on generic drugs even before you’ve met your deductible.
• Stay healthy with preventive benefits: All health plans sold through the Marketplace cover a set of preventive services at no cost to you when delivered by a network provider. These include some screenings, check-ups, patient counseling, and wellness services.

If you’ve never had health insurance or if it’s been a while, you can get more information about using your coverage and improving your health using our Roadmap to Better Care and a Healthier You (PDF).

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If you enrolled in a Marketplace health insurance plan for 2015, you should have gotten tax Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement in the mail. If you have an online Marketplace account, it should be there too.

Check your 1095-A to make sure it’s correct

• Carefully read the instructions on the back, and make sure the information is accurate. If anything about your household or coverage is wrong, contact the Marketplace Call Center. They’ll send a corrected version. Don’t file your taxes until you get it.
• Think the "monthly enrollment premium" may be wrong? Read this before calling.
• If your "monthly second lowest cost silver plan (SLCSP) premium" (Part III, Column B) is "0" or blank for any month someone in your household had Marketplace coverage, it may be wrong. It may also be wrong if you didn’t report a change to your household — like having a baby or getting married. If your SLCSP premium is the only thing wrong, you don’t need to request a new form. You can just use our tax tool to get the right figure.

IMPORTANT Don’t file your taxes until you have an accurate 1095-A for 2015.

More information on 2015 Form 1095-A

• Get IRS Form 1095-A instructions for filing your taxes.
• Find out how to reconcile your premium tax credit using the form.
• Don’t have it? Find out how to find it online.

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