It’s been two years since implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the expansion of Medi-Cal took effect. For millions of Californians, that’s two years of seeing a regular doctor for the first time and having preventive check-ups rather than visiting the ER. Today, nearly one in three Californians receives Medi-Cal health care coverage – a huge success as communities work toward improving well-being.

Yet the work continues to ensure the law, its many benefits and various aspects of the mandate are borne out. That includes ensuring people understand information about a tax form that will be used for the first time in 2016 – Form 1095B. The 1095-B is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) document that many, but not all, people who have Medi-Cal will receive. It verifies that an individual had health coverage in 2015 and met the individual mandate of the ACA, which individuals must prove when filing federal taxes.

CWDA has worked closely with the California Department of Health Care Services in the development of materials and processes around the 1095B effort, including how to handle questions from Medi-Cal clients and working with the California Department of Social Services on how the form affects programs including CalWORKs and Foster Care.

CWDA worked on a Q&A webpage with the California Department of Health Care Services to assist Medi-Cal clients and county human services agencies.

Visit the 1095B Q&A webpage.