Yes. If you had Medicaid at any point during the year, your state Medicaid agency is required to report that coverage to the IRS and to you on Form 1095-B. So the answer to whether Medicaid sends tax forms is yes, though not always in the mail: for the 2025 tax year, agencies can satisfy their obligation by posting a website notice telling you how to request a copy, and the deadline for making the form available is March 2, 2026.1Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Forms 1094-B and 1095-B
The form documents that you had minimum essential coverage. Health coverage providers, state Medicaid agencies included, must report enrollment to the IRS under federal law.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 6055 – Reporting of Health Insurance Coverage What has changed is the delivery method, not the reporting requirement.
Why the Form May Not Arrive in Your Mailbox
Providers are no longer required to automatically mail Form 1095-B. They can instead post a clear notice on their website explaining that a copy is available on request. If your state Medicaid agency uses this option, the notice must include an email address, a mailing address, and a phone number for requests. Once you ask, the agency has 30 days to send your copy.1Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Forms 1094-B and 1095-B
Some states still mail the form automatically. Others rely on the online-notice option. If nothing has arrived by early March, check your state Medicaid agency’s website before assuming something went wrong.
How to Request a Copy
Many state Medicaid agencies and managed care plans offer online portals where you can log in and download the form. Registration usually requires your member ID and identity verification.
You can also call the member services number on your Medicaid card or enrollment letter. Have your member identification number and current address ready. Automated menus typically include an option for tax forms or account documents. Allow a few weeks for a mailed copy, and keep your address current with the agency to avoid delays.
Do You Need It to File Your Taxes?
No. The IRS says individual taxpayers should file as they normally would, even if Form 1095-B has not arrived.3Internal Revenue Service. Questions and Answers About Health Care Information Forms for Individuals The form should not be attached to your return; keep it with your personal tax records.
The federal penalty for going without health insurance has been zero since 2019.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 5000A – Requirement to Maintain Minimum Essential Coverage Starting with tax year 2019, the IRS also removed the health coverage checkbox and Form 8965 from the individual return.5Internal Revenue Service. Gathering Your Health Coverage Documentation for the Tax Filing Season Medicaid coverage does not need to be reported anywhere on federal Form 1040.
If you want to confirm your coverage before the form arrives, other documents will do the job:
- Your Medicaid card showing active coverage.
- Explanation of benefits statements from your insurer showing claims processed during the year.
- Enrollment letters from your state Medicaid agency confirming coverage dates.
These are enough to accurately report your coverage when filing.3Internal Revenue Service. Questions and Answers About Health Care Information Forms for Individuals The federal filing deadline for tax year 2025 is April 15, 2026.
When the Form Actually Matters
A handful of states and the District of Columbia enforce their own health insurance requirements with financial penalties. If you live in one of those places, Form 1095-B is worth holding on to because it proves you had qualifying coverage and helps you avoid a state-level penalty. Penalty amounts vary but are generally the higher of a flat dollar amount per adult or a percentage of household income, often capped at the average cost of a bronze-tier marketplace plan.
Medicaid coverage for all twelve months satisfies these state requirements. Gaps in coverage could trigger a state penalty. Check your state tax agency’s website for the specifics.
If You Spot an Error
Contact your state Medicaid agency or managed care plan right away if the form shows a wrong Social Security number, a misspelled name, or months of enrollment that do not match your records. Once corrected, the agency must issue a new form marked “CORRECTED” and send it to both you and the IRS.1Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Forms 1094-B and 1095-B
An error does not stop you from filing. Use your own enrollment records to file accurately, and keep the corrected form with your records when it arrives. If the mistake involves months of coverage that affect a state mandate calculation, fixing it quickly helps you avoid an incorrect state penalty.
How Long to Keep It
The IRS generally recommends keeping tax records for at least three years from the date you file.6Internal Revenue Service. How Long Should I Keep Records Form 1095-B falls under that rule. If your state has its own coverage mandate, holding on to it for three years gives you documentation if your state tax agency questions your coverage. After that, it can go with the rest of that year’s supporting tax documents.