1095 Tax Form Frequently Asked Questions

The 1095 is a tax form that shows the health care coverage you had in the previous year.

Due to recent tax law changes¹, if you bought your health plan directly from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX)² or got your BCBSTX health plan through your job³, the IRS says you no longer need Form 1095-B to file your federal income taxes. This change is as of January 2021.

Since you won’t need this form for tax filing, it will be mailed to you only if you ask.

Q1: What is this 1095 tax form?
A: The 1095 form shows the health care coverage you had with us during the previous year.

Q2: Will I get a 1095 tax form?
A:  If you bought a plan directly from BCBSTX, you have 4 ways to ask for your BCBSTX Form 1095-B. How you make your request is up to you. Once received, your Form 1095-B will be mailed to your address on file within 30 days.

1. Phone
   Call the number on the back of your BCBSTX member ID card to ask for your Form 1095-B.  If you can’t find this number, you can also call 1-855-710-6984.
   
   
2. Mail
   Print and fill out the 1095-B Request Form,  then mail it to:
   Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
   C/o 1095-B Form Request
   PO Box 660044
   Dallas, TX 75266-0044
   
   
3. Email
   Fill out the 1095-B Request Form,  then attach it to an email. Send the email⁴ to Form1095B@bcbsil.com.
   
   
4. Blue Access for Members^SM (BAM^SM)
   Sign up or log in to BAM, then visit the Contact Us page to send a secure message.
   • If you had an insured group health plan with BCBSTX, you may ask for a copy of your 1095-B form using any of the three ways above.
   • If you had a self-insured group health plan with BCBSTX, your employer sends you a 1095-C form.
   • If you had a BCBSTX plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace in Texas, the Marketplace may send you a 1095-A form.

Q3: I got a 1095-A form from the Marketplace/Exchange. Is that different?
A: There are different 1095 forms. The form that applies to you is based on your health plan type.  All 1095 forms show the health care coverage you had during the previous tax year.

If you had a Marketplace/Exchange plan for all or part of the year, the Marketplace may send you a 1095-A form.

Q4: There is a mistake on my form. Can BCBSTX fix it?
A: You can call the customer service number on the back of your ID card to let us know.

• If you had group coverage, make sure your employer has the correct information
• If you had a BCBSTX plan through the Marketplace, log in to your online Marketplace account or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).

Q5: If you send me a corrected form, will you send corrected information to the IRS, too?
A: Yes, corrected information will be sent to the IRS.

Q6: How can I tell if my form has been corrected?
A: If your correction was a change to your member information or your employer’s address, the form will say “corrected” at the top. If your form was corrected to update your employer’s identification number (EIN), it will not say “corrected.”

Q7: The form shows my full Individual Taxpayer ID Number (ITIN). Why is only a partial ITIN shown for my dependents?  
A: The ITIN is an IRS number issued to people who are not able to get a Social Security Number. To make sure we include correct information, our system requires us to print the entire ITIN for the subscriber, or policyholder. We can print shortened numbers for the other people covered by your plan.

Q8: I lost the 1095-B form I asked for. Can you send me another?
A: Yes. You can call the customer service number on the back of your BCBSTX ID card to request a reprint. Please note:

• If you were covered by a self-insured group plan with BCBSTX, your employer would provide you with the 1095-C tax form. In that case, you will need to ask for a copy from your employer, not BCBSTX.
• If you had a BCBSTX plan through the Marketplace, the Marketplace sends you a 1095-A form. Log in to your online Marketplace account or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325) to ask for a copy of the 1095-A.

Q9. Can you send my 1095 form to a new address or an alternate address?
A: The 1095 can be sent only to the mailing address listed in our system. If your address is not correct, please call the customer service number on the back of your ID card to update your information.

¹ Contact your tax advisor for more information about the individual mandate.
² If you bought your health plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace, you can visit the Marketplace website for Form 1095-A details.
³ Based on your health plan, your employer may have sent you Form 1095-C.
⁴ When sending personal information via email; there is a risk to the privacy and integrity of the information you provide due to the fact that the email may pass through private and public networks with varying levels of security.

The information and content provided on this page is for informational purposes only. It is not intended, nor should it be construed as, or relied upon, as legal or tax advice. Please consult with an attorney or tax advisor to address your particular circumstance.

Revised 1/14/2021