What You Need to Know about your Social Security Number & your Health Insurance Company
There is NOT a specific IRS form that will be mailed to request your social security number for your health insurance. The IRS has not designated a specific form to request this information. Your health insurance company may mail you a written request which discusses these new rules, but always be cautious with your social security number. Only provide it when you are certain it is a legitimate request.
Your health insurance company may request social security numbers for you, your spouse and your children covered by your policy. This is because the Affordable Care Act requires every provider to report coverage by filing an information return with the IRS. The information is used by the IRS to document compliance with the health care law. Health coverage providers will file an information return, Form 1095-B, Health Coverage, with the IRS and will furnish statements to you in 2016, to report coverage information from calendar year 2015.
RUT RO: this sound like a potential refund delay problem if you don’t comply with your health insurance company’s request:
“If you don’t provide your SSN and the SSNs of all covered individuals to the sponsor of the coverage, the IRS may not be able to match the Form 1095-B with the individuals to determine that they have complied with the individual shared responsibility provision.”
The information received by the IRS will be used to verify information on your individual income tax return. If you refuse to provide this information to your health insurance company, the IRS cannot verify the information you provide on your tax return. You also may receive a notice from the IRS indicating that you are liable for a shared responsibility payment. Your may receive a letter that discusses these new rules and requests social security numbers for all family members covered under your policy. The Form 1095-B will provide information for your income tax return that shows you, your spouse, and individuals you claim as dependents had qualifying health coverage for some or all months during the year. You do not have to attach Form 1095-B to your tax return. Keep it with your other important tax documents.
Anyone on your return who does not have minimum essential coverage, and who does not qualify for an exemption, may be liable for the individual shared responsibility payment.
For more information, see the IRS Questions and Answers about Reporting Social Security Numbers to Your Health Insurance Company