When you apply, you can decide to use some or all the financial help you qualify for in advance, or wait to get a credit on your tax return.

 
The financial help available to you—a tax credit made available through the government and only available when you apply and buy through Connect for Health Colorado—will be based on what you estimate your annual income and family size will be that year.

 
When you file your federal income taxes, the IRS will double-check to make sure you got the correct amount of tax credit, based on what your actual income and family size was for that year. And they will make it right through your taxes—some families may get more money, while others may have to pay money back if their estimates were not correct.

 
If you think your income may increase or you plan to move throughout the year, it’s best to take only some of the financial help each month or wait and take it all as a lump sum as a tax credit on your tax return, so you can avoid having to pay any money back