Estimate your eligibility for ACA premium tax credits (subsidies).
Your Information
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
District of Columbia
Your Estimated Subsidy
Understanding ACA Premium Tax Credits (Subsidies)
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), often referred to as Obamacare, provides financial assistance to help individuals and families purchase health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace. This assistance comes in the form of Premium Tax Credits (PTCs), also known as subsidies. These credits are designed to reduce your monthly health insurance premium costs.
The amount of subsidy you receive is determined by your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), household size, and the cost of health insurance in your area. Generally, individuals and families with incomes between 100% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) are eligible for these subsidies. For 2024, the 400% FPL line is approximately $59,640 for an individual and $122,880 for a family of four. Those with incomes above 400% FPL may still be eligible if they do not have access to affordable, minimum-value employer-sponsored coverage or government-sponsored coverage.
How the Subsidy is Calculated (Simplified):
Determine Income Percentage: Your household income is compared to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for your household size. The FPL varies by year and state (especially Alaska and Hawaii).
Find Your Expected Contribution: The ACA dictates a maximum percentage of your household income you should be expected to pay for a benchmark "silver" plan. This percentage increases as your income rises. For example, in 2024, if your income is at 150% FPL, you might be expected to pay around 4% of your income for health insurance, while at 400% FPL, it might be around 9.5%.
Calculate Premium Assistance: The subsidy is the difference between the cost of the benchmark silver plan premium and your expected contribution.
Subsidy Amount = Benchmark Silver Plan Premium – (Your Income Percentage of MAGI)
Additional Savings (Cost-Sharing Reductions): If your income is below 250% of the FPL, you may also qualify for Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSRs). These lower your out-of-pocket costs like deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance when you use doctors and facilities within the plan's network.
Important Considerations:
This calculator provides an estimate. Your final subsidy amount will be determined by the Health Insurance Marketplace after you submit a formal application and verify your income and household information.
Income figures used are typically Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). This includes most but not all income sources.
State Medicaid expansion also plays a role. If your state has expanded Medicaid and your income falls below a certain threshold (typically 138% FPL), you may be eligible for Medicaid instead of an ACA subsidy for Marketplace plans.
The benchmark plan used for calculation is usually the second-lowest cost silver plan (SLCSP) available in your area. Prices vary significantly by location.
Using this calculator can help you understand your potential savings and make informed decisions about your health insurance options.
function calculateSubsidy() {
// Get input values
var householdIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("householdIncome").value);
var householdSize = parseInt(document.getElementById("householdSize").value);
var state = document.getElementById("state").value;
// Clear previous results and messages
document.getElementById("subsidyResult").textContent = "";
document.getElementById("eligibilityMessage").textContent = "";
document.getElementById("explanation").textContent = "";
document.getElementById("resultContainer").style.display = "none";
// — Input Validation —
if (isNaN(householdIncome) || householdIncome < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid annual household income.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(householdSize) || householdSize 8) { // Extend for larger families using the increment
fplForHousehold = (fplData[state]["8"] || baseFPL) + (householdSize – 8) * increment;
}
}
if (!fplForHousehold) {
alert("Could not determine FPL for your state and household size. Please try again or consult official sources.");
return;
}
var fplPercentage = (householdIncome / fplForHousehold) * 100;
var incomeLimitForMedicaid = fplForHousehold * 1.38; // Approx. 138% FPL for Medicaid eligibility in expansion states
// — Determine Expected Contribution Percentage (Illustrative 2024 ranges) —
// Source: https://www.healthcare.gov/lower-premiums/premiums-and-cost-savings/
var expectedContributionPercent;
if (fplPercentage = 100 && fplPercentage = 150 && fplPercentage = 200 && fplPercentage = 250 && fplPercentage = 300 && fplPercentage = 350 && fplPercentage = 400) {
expectedContributionPercent = null; // Not eligible for PTCs based on income alone (may have other eligibility)
}
var resultHtml = "";
var eligibilityText = "";
var explanationText = "";
// — Determine Benchmark Plan Cost (Illustrative Average – this varies WIDELY by location) —
// This is a placeholder. Real calculations use state-specific benchmark plan costs.
// Average benchmark silver plan cost is highly variable. Using a rough estimate.
var avgBenchmarkSilverCostPerPerson = 550; // Monthly average cost per person for a benchmark silver plan
var estimatedBenchmarkPlanCost = avgBenchmarkSilverCostPerPerson * householdSize;
if (expectedContributionPercent !== null && fplPercentage < 400) {
var maxOwnContribution = householdIncome * expectedContributionPercent;
var estimatedSubsidy = estimatedBenchmarkPlanCost – maxOwnContribution;
// Ensure subsidy is not negative
if (estimatedSubsidy < 0) {
estimatedSubsidy = 0;
}
resultHtml = "$" + estimatedSubsidy.toFixed(2) + " per month";
explanationText = "Your estimated maximum monthly premium subsidy is calculated based on your income being " +
fplPercentage.toFixed(1) + "% of the Federal Poverty Level. You are expected to contribute " +
(expectedContributionPercent * 100).toFixed(2) + "% of your income towards a benchmark silver plan ($" +
maxOwnContribution.toFixed(2) + "/month). The total estimated cost of the benchmark plan is $" +
estimatedBenchmarkPlanCost.toFixed(2) + "/month.";
if (fplPercentage = 400) {
resultHtml = "N/A";
eligibilityText = "Your income is above 400% FPL. Based on income alone, you are not eligible for standard ACA premium tax credits. However, eligibility rules can be complex. Check if you qualify due to lack of affordable employer coverage.";
explanationText = "Premium tax credits are typically available for incomes up to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. There are exceptions, particularly if you are ineligible for employer-sponsored health coverage.";
} else { // fplPercentage < 100
resultHtml = "N/A";
eligibilityText = "Your income is below 100% FPL. You are likely eligible for Medicaid or CHIP in your state. Please check with your state's Medicaid agency.";
explanationText = "Individuals and families below 100% FPL generally qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, rather than ACA premium tax credits. Eligibility thresholds vary slightly by state, especially regarding Medicaid expansion.";
}
document.getElementById("subsidyResult").textContent = resultHtml;
document.getElementById("eligibilityMessage").textContent = eligibilityText;
document.getElementById("explanation").textContent = explanationText;
document.getElementById("resultContainer").style.display = "block";
}