Agents/Brokers: Help Consumers Prepare for the 2015 Tax Season

The 2015 tax season started on January 1, 2016. Consumers may ask you for help with tax filing-related questions, including:

• How to account for advance payments of the premium tax credit (APTC) they received to help pay for plan year 2015 Marketplace health insurance coverage when they are filing their 2015 federal income tax returns
• How to claim tax credits they decided not to take as APTC
• What to do if they did not maintain health coverage during 2015

The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) will provide information to consumers about their enrollment in health coverage and APTC received during 2015 by January 31, 2016 via CMS Form 1095-A. CMS will also provide this information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Remind your clients that all consumers who received APTC are required to file a federal income tax return.
Consumers should confirm the information on their Form 1095-A is correct and use the information to complete IRS Form 8962 and file it with their tax return if they want to claim the premium tax credit or if they received premium assistance through APTC. Consumers must complete Form 8962 to compare the amount of tax credit paid in advance based on estimated income with the final tax credit the enrollee is eligible for based on actual income for the year during which they receive APTC. For more information, refer to: HealthCare.gov/taxes.
Watch for additional emails in the coming weeks providing information on tax season readiness, including information on what consumers should do if they did not maintain health coverage during 2015. CMS will also be presenting on this topic during the January 5, 2016 “Operational Updates and Announcements for Agents and Brokers Participating in the Federally-facilitated Marketplace” webinar. To register for this session, log in to www.REGTAP.info and complete the following steps:

1. Select "Training Events" from "My Dashboard."
2. Select the "View" icon next to the event title for the webinar you are interested in attending.
3. Select "Register Me."

Contact Us:
If you have any questions about the FFM agent and broker program, please email the FFM Producer and Assister Help Desk at FFMProducer-AssisterHelpDesk@cms.hhs.gov.
You may also contact the Agent and Broker Call Center by calling 1-855-CMS-1515 (855-267-1515) and selecting option “1.” Call Center Representatives are available Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).
Please note that the Agent and Broker Call Center will not have access to consumer information and will not be able to handle specific questions or issues with a consumer’s application.

• Call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 for assistance with enrolling consumers in coverage through the Individual Marketplace.

Call the Small Business Health Options (SHOP) Call Center at 1-800-706-7893 for assistance related to coverage through the SHOP Marketplace.