When the Marketplace Requires Documents to Confirm Your Application Information

After completing your application or enrolling in health insurance through the Marketplace, you might be asked to submit documents to verify or supplement the information provided, such as your income, citizenship, or immigration status. This request is often referred to as a "data matching issue" or "inconsistency."

Note: If you're asked to confirm your eligibility for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) due to a life event like moving or losing coverage, the process is different. Learn how to confirm SEP eligibility.

IMPORTANT: You could lose your insurance or financial assistance if you don't submit the required documents by the deadline specified in your Marketplace notice. It's crucial to submit these documents as soon as possible to avoid losing your health coverage or savings. You can submit the documents either online or by mail, but uploading them online is the quickest and most efficient method. The Marketplace does not accept documents by email or fax.

Ready to Submit Your Documents?

Uploading Documents (Fastest Method)

Uploading your documents online is the quickest way to get them to the Marketplace. To begin, you'll need an electronic file of the document, which can be a scan or a clear photo.

Ensure that your file:

• Is in one of the following formats: .pdf, .jpeg, .jpg, .gif, .xml, .png, .tiff, or .bmp
• Is under 10 MB in size
• Has a file name without any special characters like colons, semicolons, or asterisks

Once your documents are ready, log in to HealthCare.gov to upload them.

LOG IN TO UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENTS

For detailed instructions on how to upload your documents, you can view our step-by-step guide with screenshots here (PDF).

Mailing Documents

If you prefer to mail your documents, remember:

• Do not send original documents; only send photocopies.
• Include the printed bar code page from the last page of your eligibility notice. If you don't have a bar code, include your printed name and the application ID, which can be found near your mailing address at the top of your notice.

By following these steps, you’ll ensure that your application information is verified promptly, helping you maintain your coverage and any financial assistance you qualify for.

Required Documents & Deadlines

If you’re asked to verify or supplement the information you provided on your Marketplace application, you'll receive notices—either by letter, email, or both—detailing which documents you need to submit. Your health insurance company may also send a notice.

What to do if you can't find your notice

Which Documents to Submit

The type of documents you need to submit depends on the information that requires verification, such as:

• Yearly income estimate
• Immigration status
• Citizenship
• Adoption, foster care placement, or court order
• Other specific issues

Your notice will include a list of acceptable documents to resolve these issues. Once you’ve gathered the necessary documents, you can follow a step-by-step guide with pictures or written instructions to upload them.

LOG IN TO UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENTS

Your Submission Deadline

The deadline to submit your documents depends on the type of information you're required to verify:

• General Issues: You have at least 90 days from the date of your eligibility notice (usually the date you completed your application) to resolve the issue before your plan could be changed or terminated.
• Citizenship and Immigration Issues: You have 95 days to submit the required documents.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline

If you don’t meet the deadline, we’ll re-evaluate your insurance and savings eligibility based on our data sources rather than the information you provided on your application. This could affect your current insurance coverage and costs:

• Premium Tax Credit: The amount you’re eligible for may change or you could lose it entirely.
• Savings on Out-of-Pocket Costs (Cost-Sharing Reductions): These savings may change or be eliminated.
• Citizenship or Immigration Status: If you fail to submit the required documents in time, the health insurance coverage for the individual in question could be terminated.

More Answers: Required Documents & Deadlines

What should I do if I can't find my notice?

1. Log into your Marketplace account.
2. Select the application with the data matching issue under "Your applications."
3. Use the menu on the left side of your screen to select "Application Details."
4. Under "Send Documents for Data Matching Issues," you’ll see a list of issues that apply to you and your household.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions for each issue.

What if I missed the deadline?

Even if you missed the deadline, you should still submit the documents. Your Marketplace coverage and savings may depend on it.

If I’m asked to verify my income, what documents can I submit?

• If you don’t expect your income to change: Provide your most recent tax return or W-2s. If you have a new job but expect the same income, submit recent pay stubs from your new job instead of documents from your old job. See more details about acceptable income documents.

• If you expect your income to change: Submit documents like recent pay stubs or a letter that specifies when contract work will end or what your new wages will be. For a full list of acceptable documents, refer to the table on page 8 of this document (PDF).

After You Submit Your Documents

Once we receive your documents, we will:

1. Match them with your application.
2. Review each document to ensure it confirms the information we need.
3. Contact you if additional information is required.

What to Do If You Haven't Heard from Us in a Month

If you haven't received any updates within a month, your documents may still be under review, or they might not have been received.

• To Check Document Status: Contact the Marketplace Call Center.

  • If the Call Center Confirms Receipt of Your Documents: You don't need to take further action unless requested. Don’t resend the same documents, even if you continue receiving reminder emails.

  • If the Call Center Indicates Your Documents Have Not Been Received: Review your eligibility notice and any reminder notices to verify which documents are required. Gather the necessary documents and upload or mail them as soon as possible.