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About Form MA 1099-HC for Massachusetts Residents

What is the Form MA 1099-HC?
The Form MA 1099-HC serves as proof of health insurance coverage for Massachusetts residents age 18 and over. This proof is required for state income tax filing by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for Massachusetts residents age 18 and older.

What does the Form MA 1099-HC indicate?
The form will indicate that you have had either continuous or partial year's coverage for tax year 2008. If you had partial year's coverage, the form will indicate which months you had coverage with Tufts Health Plan. Please note that you must have been covered under Tufts Health Plan for at least 15 days in any given month in order to be considered to have had coverage under the plan for that month. If you only had coverage for 14 days in any given month, your 1099-HC form will not show coverage with Tufts Health Plan for that month.

To see a sample form, click here.

Will I receive the Form MA 1099-HC?
You will receive a form if Tufts Health Plan records show that you were covered by the health plan at any time during 2008. You will need this information to complete Schedule HC of your 2008 Massachusetts state tax return. The information provided on the Form MA 1099-HC is being reported directly to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.

Tufts Health Plan Medicare Preferred, Tufts Medicare Complement, and Medicare Complement plan members will not receive the Form MA 1099-HC, as it is not required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

May I receive more than one Form MA 1099-HC if I had coverage from more than one insurance company in tax year 2008?
Yes, it is possible for you to receive more than one Form MA 1099-HC for tax year 2008 if you changed insurance companies at some time during the year, or if you had coverage under more than one plan. You will need all of your 1099-HC forms in order to prepare your MA Schedule HC for your Massachusetts state taxes.

When will I receive a Form MA 1099-HC?
Tufts Health Plan will mail Tufts Health Plan members a Form MA 1099-HC on or before January 31, 2009.

If I receive my health care coverage through an employer, will my employer send me the MA 1099-HC?
Your health insurer, not your employer, will provide you with a Form MA 1099-HC.

It is after January 31, 2009, but I have not received a MA 1099-HC. What should I do?
If it is after January 31, 2009, and you have not received a MA 1099-HC, but believe you should have, please contact our Member Services Department at 800-408-1956.

What if I notice that information on the form is incorrect?
If the error is the date of birth for you or a dependent or your effective date of the plan, or if a covered dependent is not listed on the form, please call our Member Services Department at 800-408-1956.

If there are any other errors, please note that the form will still be valid for your Massachusetts state tax filing purposes. For other corrections, please contact your employer.

If members of my family who are covered under my plan file their own taxes, will they receive a MA 1099-HC from Tufts Health Plan?
You as the subscriber will receive only one copy of the MA 1099-HC for you and for any dependents covered under your Tufts Health Plan coverage during 2008. You may make copies of the Form MA 1099-HC for any dependents requiring proof of coverage.

Please note: Dependents should use their individual member number, including the suffix, and not the subscriber number in Box 5 on the Form MA 1099-HC you receive. Dependents can find their member number either on their Tufts Health Plan member ID card or on their individual coverage record as it appears on the Form MA 1099-HC you receive from Tufts Health Plan.

Should I attach the Form MA 1099-HC to my Massachusetts state income tax return?
The 1099-HC form provides information you will need to complete MA Schedule HC, a new required tax schedule document for all Massachusetts residents. It is not necessary to attach the Form MA 1099-HC to your Massachusetts state income tax return.

Where can I obtain more information about the Form MA 1099-HC?
For more information about Massachusetts health care reform law and/or associated tax requirements, go to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Web site, www.mass.gov/dor, or speak with your tax advisor.

I live and work outside of Massachusetts. Do I need this form?
You only need this form if you are filing a Massachusetts tax form for 2008. Otherwise, you can disregard this information