IRS requesting my 1095-B forms but BCBS refuses to provide them - what now?

Thanks for the suggestions! I called BCBS again and specifically asked for a "proof of coverage letter" like you suggested, but they said they can only provide general billing statements. The customer service rep mentioned something about these temporary plans not being reported to the IRS in the same way as standard plans. Would those billing statements be enough for the IRS if they show I paid for health insurance during those months? Also, I do have all my payment receipts and policy numbers. Should I just submit those to the IRS along with an explanation letter?

Billing statements that clearly show you paid for health insurance coverage during specific months can be helpful supporting documentation. Include those along with your payment receipts and policy numbers. Create a simple cover letter explaining your situation - that BCBS cannot provide a 1095-B for their temporary plans from 2024, but the attached documents prove you maintained continuous coverage. Consider using Form 8275 (Disclosure Statement) to formally explain the situation to the IRS. This form allows you to disclose items or positions that aren't adequately addressed by forms or instructions. It shows good-faith compliance efforts and can help avoid penalties in situations like yours where standard documentation isn't available.

Did you have to talk to someone there or is it all automated? I'm dealing with some health insurance documentation issues too but really don't want to spend hours explaining my situation to someone.

How long did it take to get results back? The IRS gave me a 30 day deadline to respond with my missing 1095-B forms and I'm already 2 weeks in. Not sure if this would be fast enough?

You don't have to talk to anyone - it's all automated so you just upload your documents and their system analyzes them. It's super convenient if you don't want to spend time explaining everything to someone. I just uploaded my insurance statements and receipts and got guidance on what would work. You get results back pretty quickly - I got mine within a day. Definitely fast enough for your 30-day deadline if you still have 2 weeks left. Their analysis told me exactly what combination of documents to send and how to present them to the IRS, which made the whole process much easier.

How does this actually work? Do they just call for you or what? Sounds too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach anyone at these companies.

Sounds like a scam to me. How is some random service going to get through when I can't? They probably just charge you and then you still end up waiting on hold forever. No way they have special access to insurance companies.

They don't call for you - you call through their system and they use technology to navigate the phone trees and wait on hold, then alert you when a real person picks up. It saves you from sitting on hold for hours. Their system knows all the shortcuts through the phone menus to get to actual help faster. I was skeptical too, but it actually works. They don't have "special access" - they just have figured out the most efficient paths through the phone systems of major companies and use their technology to wait on hold instead of you having to do it. I was amazed when I got through to a supervisor at BCBS in about 15 minutes after previously spending over an hour and getting nowhere.

That's a really good idea I hadn't thought of! Do you know how long the process typically takes when you file a complaint with the insurance commissioner? I'm a bit worried about the timeframe since the IRS only gave me 30 days to respond with the documentation.

In my case, I got a response within about a week after filing the complaint. The insurance commissioner's office contacted the insurance company directly, and suddenly they were able to "find" the documentation they claimed didn't exist. You should mention the 30-day IRS deadline in your complaint - the commissioner's office can often expedite cases that have external deadlines. They can't force the company to create a form that doesn't exist, but they can pressure them to provide acceptable alternative documentation that satisfies the IRS requirements. The state regulators have significant leverage over insurance companies, which is why you'll often see faster results when they get involved.

Yes! I had to submit alternative documentation instead of a 1095-B last year. I sent in my insurance cards, payment receipts, and a letter explaining why I couldn't get the official form. The key was including Form 8275 (Disclosure Statement) where I explained the situation in detail. The IRS accepted everything without any follow-up questions.