HealthCare.gov reviews uploaded documents in about 7–10 days, and many cases wrap up sooner depending on the check.
What Marketplace Document Review Covers
When the Marketplace spots a mismatch or needs proof, it asks for files. The upload can confirm identity, income, household size, citizenship or immigration, or a life event for a Special Enrollment Period. Each category has its own clock and cues. The site sends notices inside your account and by email once a decision posts.
How Long HealthCare.Gov Reviews Documents — Typical Timeframes
Most uploads clear inside a week or two. The site’s help page says the team will send results in 7–10 days. You’ll see a message in your account and get an email when the review lands. If a case needs a second look, the window can stretch, but long holds are rare outside peak season.
| Document Type | What It Confirms | Usual Review Window |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Matches you to your application | 7–10 days; many finish in a few days |
| Income (Data Match) | Aligns reported income with records | About 7–10 days per upload; full fix due within 90 days |
| Citizenship/Immigration | Status proof if data can’t verify | About 7–10 days; deadline to submit is 95 days |
| Household Size | Birth, marriage, or tax filer changes | About 7–10 days after upload |
| Special Enrollment Period | Qualifying event timing | Letter often arrives within two weeks |
For the 7–10 day result window and upload steps, see the Marketplace guide on uploading documents. Deadlines to resolve issues sit at 90 days for most checks and 95 days for citizenship or immigration; the policy page on documents and deadlines spells out the clock.
Fastest Paths To A Decision
Clear scans move first. Crop edges, use high contrast, and avoid shadows. Name files so a reviewer sees the type at a glance, like “pay-stub-June-1” or “birth-certificate.” Upload the full page, front and back if it’s an ID. If you mail papers, use tracking so you can point to the date received.
Pick the right category in the upload tool. A proof of income sent under identity will stall. Match the request line in your notice to the dropdown in the portal. If your letter lists more than one item, send them in a single session so they’re grouped together in the queue.
Tips For Income Mismatches
Gather a recent pay stub, an employer letter with start date and pay rate, or the first page of your latest tax return. If hours swing a lot, include two or three stubs to show the pattern. When self-employed, a year-to-date profit and loss sheet with dates and totals helps. Round to dollars and keep notes clean.
Tips For Identity Proof
Use a driver’s license, state ID, or passport. Make sure the name, date of birth, and photo are sharp. If the name on your ID doesn’t match your application, add a name change record. If the online system can’t match you, the site may direct you to a phone line or ask for a manual check. That still routes through the same queue once files land.
What Delays A Review
Poor images send staff back for more info. So do cut-off pages, blocked SSNs when the number is needed, and files that don’t match the request. Duplicate uploads slow things too. Send the set once, then wait for the outcome message. If you haven’t heard anything in about a month, call the Marketplace line and ask if the files arrived.
Peak Season And Mail Lag
From November through January, volume spikes. Digital uploads still move faster than mail. If you mailed papers, add a week or two for delivery and scanning before the review even starts. If your deadline is tight, re-send the same proof by upload so it appears in the queue right away.
How To Read Status Messages
Inside your account, the “application details” page shows what the team still needs. You may see “in progress,” “received,” or a new notice with the result. If the review clears your issue, your eligibility notice updates. If the team needs more, the message lists the missing piece and the date it’s due.
Deadlines And What Happens If You Miss One
Most issues allow 90 days from the date on your eligibility notice. For citizenship or immigration, you get 95 days. During that time, you can enroll and use your plan, but the savings in your estimate can change if the file never clears. The site sends warning messages before it adjusts anything.
| Issue Type | Deadline To Submit | If You Miss It |
|---|---|---|
| Income Data Match | 90 days from notice date | Plan stays, savings may drop or change |
| Citizenship/Immigration | 95 days from notice date | Plan can end if status can’t be proven |
| Special Enrollment Period Proof | Usually within 30 days | Plan pick can be canceled; you may need to reapply |
Step-By-Step Upload Checklist
- Open your account and find the notice that lists what’s needed.
- Pick the matching document type from the menu.
- Scan or photo the full page at a readable size.
- Check file size and format; PDF or JPEG works for most items.
- Name files clearly so a reviewer can skim the list fast.
- Submit all items in one session when you can.
- Return to the application page and confirm the files show as “received.”
- Watch for a message and email within 7–10 days.
Realistic Timeline Examples
Identity Match For A New Applicant
Day 0: You try online proofing and it fails. You upload your driver’s license that same day. Day 2–4: A message lands that your ID cleared. Day 5–7: Your enrollment continues with no extra steps.
Income Data Match For A Family
Day 0: You pick a plan, then see a notice about income. You upload two recent pay stubs. Day 7–10: The team posts a result. If the stubs match your estimate, your savings stand. If not, you may get a nudge to update income. You still have the rest of the 90-day window if more proof is needed.
Special Enrollment Period After A Move
Day 0: You report a move and select a plan. You upload a lease and a bill. Week 2: A letter appears in your account that the life event is confirmed, and your plan gets the green light once you pay the first premium.
When To Call
Call if you see no status change after about a month, if the portal shows “received” but you still get reminders, or if a deadline is near and mail was the only way you could send proof. Ask the agent to check whether files are attached to the right application and whether a fresh upload would help.
Quick Myths And Facts
“Uploading Twice Speeds Things Up.”
It doesn’t. Duplicate files clog the queue. Send once and wait for a result. If a message asks for a new item, send only the new item.
“Mail Is Just As Fast As Upload.”
Mail adds transit and scanning time. If you can upload, do that. Save mailing for cases where you can’t create a clear digital copy.
“A DMI Blocks Coverage.”
No. You can enroll while the check runs. If the issue stays open past the deadline, your savings can change and, for some status checks, the plan can end. Finish the file well before the deadline to keep everything steady.
Bottom Line On Timing
Plan on a week to ten days for a routine file, with quicker results during low-volume months. Read each notice closely, send clean scans, and avoid repeats. Use the two linked pages in this guide for the exact upload steps and the official deadlines. If nothing moves after a month, call and ask for a status check.
Where Decisions Appear
Results post in two spots: your account Messages and the application’s details page. Many notices arrive as a PDF you can download and save. The eligibility notice lists what changed and the next steps. Save it with your plan files so tax time goes smoothly and any future changes are easy to document.
Keep copies.