There is no way to get the 1095-B form from Medicare online. Medicare does not post the form to any account dashboard, and neither Medicare.gov nor your “my Social Security” account at ssa.gov offers it as a download. The only way to obtain a copy is to call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and ask a representative to mail one to you. Before you make that call, though, check whether you actually need the form at all. Most Medicare beneficiaries don’t.
Do You Even Need the Form?
Probably not. The federal penalty for going without health insurance ended after 2018, so there is no federal tax consequence for being uninsured and no federal reason to prove coverage.1HealthCare.gov. Exemptions From the Requirement to Have Health Insurance The IRS is explicit that the form does not go with your return: “Do not attach Form 1095-B to your tax return — keep it with your tax records.”2Internal Revenue Service. Questions and Answers About Health Care Information Forms for Individuals
CMS also files the form with the IRS directly, so the agency already has your coverage data whether you ever request your copy or not.3Internal Revenue Service. About Form 1095-B, Health Coverage
If you want proof of coverage for your own records, the 1095-B is not the only document that works. The IRS accepts insurance cards, explanation-of-benefits statements, and insurer correspondence.4Internal Revenue Service. Premium Tax Credit (PTC) Overview Your Medicare card or a letter from Social Security confirming Part A enrollment does the job.
Check Your Mail First
CMS still mails the 1095-B automatically to three groups each year, so you may already have one waiting:
- Beneficiaries under 65 who have Medicare Part A
- People who signed up for Part A for the first time during the tax year
- Beneficiaries who had Part A for only part of the year
These mailings go out between December and January, along with a Qualifying Health Coverage Notice explaining the form.5Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Introduction to the Qualifying Health Coverage Notice If you are 65 or older and had Part A all year without a break, no automatic mailing goes out to you. You’ll have to request the form.
How to Request the Form From Medicare
Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). The TTY line for hearing-impaired callers is 1-877-486-2048.6Medicare.gov. Talk to Someone – Contact Medicare Have your Medicare number in front of you; the representative needs it to verify your identity and pull your records.7Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 1-800-MEDICARE Ask for your 1095-B and specify the tax year you need. Prior years work the same way.
CMS mails the paper copy to the address on file. If you have moved since enrolling, give the representative your current address during the call. There is no fee.
The process is the same whether you have Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. Even though a private insurer administers Medicare Advantage, the IRS treats it as government-sponsored coverage and CMS issues the 1095-B.8Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Forms 1094-B and 1095-B
Requesting by Mail Instead
If you would rather write, send a request to:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850
Include your full name, Medicare number, the tax year you need, and your current mailing address. The turnaround is longer than a phone request.5Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Introduction to the Qualifying Health Coverage Notice
Why It Isn’t Online
Your “my Social Security” account lets you download the SSA-1099, which reports Social Security benefits paid during the year.9Social Security Administration. my Social Security The 1095-B is not there, because it comes from a different agency: Social Security handles the SSA-1099, and CMS handles the 1095-B. Medicare.gov has no equivalent dashboard for viewing or downloading tax forms, which leaves the phone request as the only channel.10Medicare.gov. Qualifying Health Coverage Notice and IRS Form 1095-B
When You Actually Need the Form
The main reason to bother requesting it today is a state coverage requirement. A handful of states enforce their own individual mandate with financial consequences, and the 1095-B is proof you were covered:
- California: the higher of $900 per adult ($450 per child) or 2.5% of household income above the filing threshold
- Massachusetts: penalty based on age, income, and family size, capped at half the cost of the lowest available plan
- New Jersey: penalty based on household size and income, capped at the average bronze-plan premium
- Rhode Island: the higher of $695 per adult ($347.50 per child) or 2.5% of household income
- District of Columbia: the higher of $745 per adult ($372.50 per child) or 2.5% of income above the filing threshold
Vermont requires coverage but does not impose a financial penalty. If you had Medicare Part A all year in any of these states, you were covered and owe nothing, but having the 1095-B or another proof of coverage on hand makes that easier to show if your state tax authority asks.