Making Payments to the HCTC Program
Once you are enrolled in the monthly HCTC Program, you are responsible for paying your balance due, as it is listed on your invoice, by the due date each month. The due date on your HCTC invoice allows time for the HCTC Program to process your payment, add the 80%, and pay your health plan administrator on time. Your HCTC billing cycle may not correspond exactly to your health plan administrator's billing cycle.
Your payment is sent to your health plan administrator at the end of each month. When paid, your health plan administrator will post the payment to your account. The amount of time it takes to post your payment varies based on the payment processing schedules and procedures used by the health plan administrator. Sending us your payment by the due date on your HCTC invoice is an important first step in having your payment arrive on time with your health plan.
You can make payments to the HCTC Program using a personal check, business check, certified check, cashier's check, money order, credit card or debit card.
If paying by check, include your HCTC account number on your check and make it payable to "U.S. Treasury - HCTC."
If paying by credit card, the HCTC Program accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and Diners. You can make a payment with a credit card by completing the allotted space on your HCTC invoice. You may not pay with a credit card over the phone or fax.
If you need to make an additional payment to the HCTC Program or do not have your original HCTC payment coupon, you should download and print a blank HCTC payment coupon to mail in with your payment.
Send your monthly payment to the following address:
US Treasury – HCTC
P.O. Box 970023
St. Louis, MO 63197-0023
How to Update Your HCTC Account
Once you are enrolled in the monthly HCTC Program use the HCTC Registration Update Form to notify the HCTC Program of any changes to your HCTC account including:
-
adding or removing a family member from your account
-
changing information about your health insurance (e.g. premium change)
-
changing to a new HCTC qualified health insurance plan
-
switching eligibility types from TAA/ATAA to PBGC
-
reactivating a recently cancelled account
Every time you use the Registration Update Form, you reconfirm that you are eligible for the HCTC. You should always notify the HCTC Program of any change or event that affects your eligibility, such as beginning to receive Medicare benefits, taking a new job that provides health insurance or when your COBRA coverage ends.
How to Change Your Address or Phone Number
If your address or phone number changes, you should contact the HCTC Customer Contact Center. You must also notify the PBGC or your local unemployment office in your state when your address changes. Otherwise, any change of address you make with the HCTC Program will change back when the PBGC or your state sends a monthly eligibility record for you.
Health Insurance Premium Changes
When your health insurance premium amount changes, send the HCTC Program a copy of your new health plan invoice and a completed HCTC Registration Update Form. The HCTC Program will send you a letter confirming the new invoice amount. If the HCTC Program is notified of your new premium after submitting your payment to your health plan administrator for the most recent billing period, the new premium amount will be reflected on the next invoice and you will need to pay any difference directly to your health plan administrator for that billing period.
Events Affecting Your Eligibility
While you are enrolled in the monthly HCTC, there may be certain events that affect your eligibility to receive the HCTC. Your registration will be cancelled if any of the following events occur:
-
Loss of TAA/ATAA or PBGC eligibility
-
Begin receiving Medicare benefits
-
Expiration of COBRA policy
-
Failure to pay your HCTC amount due
If one of these events is about to take place, the HCTC Program will provide you with advance notice, if possible. If the event does take place, you will receive a letter from the HCTC Program informing you of the specific reason your registration was cancelled.
If your registration was cancelled because you lost your TAA/ATAA or PBGC eligibility and you believe this is inaccurate, you should contact your State Workforce Agency (SWA)/state unemployment office (the agency in your state that handles unemployment programs) or the PBGC to find out why they did not transmit an eligibility record for you. If you lose your TAA/ATAA or PBGC eligibility, and become eligible again at a later date, you will receive a postcard in the mail from the HCTC Program and can re-register for the HCTC at that time.
If your registration was cancelled for another reason, follow the instructions on the letter you receive from the HCTC Program.
If you need to cancel your HCTC account, please call or write to the HCTC Customer Contact Center.
Information About the IRS Form 1099-H
The HCTC Program sends IRS Form 1099-H to individuals who received one or more monthly HCTC payments during the year. IRS Form 1099-H reflects the amount the HCTC Program paid on behalf of an individual directly to their health plan. This form should be kept with the individual's records, not filed with a federal tax return. Please note that monthly HCTC participants who have family members with their own HCTC Account Numbers and separate insurance policies, will receive one consolidated IRS Form 1099-H. This consolidated 1099-H will show the amount paid on behalf of the participant and all family members.
Information About Claiming Additional Amounts on Your Federal Tax Return
If you are a current monthly HCTC Program participant, but made additional payments directly to your health plan during the tax year while you were eligible for the HCTC, you can claim the yearly HCTC for these payments. Find out more information by visiting the HCTC: Information for Monthly Participants and Yearly Filers page.
Tips for the Monthly HCTC
Please keep in mind the following points as you receive the monthly tax credit:
-
Always make your HCTC payment on time. The HCTC Program will not send a payment to your health plan if we do not receive your payment on time. If this happens, you will be responsible for making a 100% payment directly to your health plan and you run the risk of losing your health coverage
-
Pay any prior balances you owe to your health plan directly. The HCTC Program will not pay for amounts you owe to your health plan prior to enrolling in the monthly HCTC Program
-
Pay short amounts directly to your health plan. For example, if your premium increases and the HCTC Program sends the previous premium amount to your health plan, then you are responsible for paying the difference to your health plan
-
Keep copies of any correspondence you receive from the HCTC Program and from your health plan. You may need these documents in the future to demonstrate an amount you paid directly to your health plan
Return to the Information for Individuals page.
Return to the HCTC Program home page.
Go to the HCTC Quick References page to view a glossary of terms, FAQs and additional resources.
|