Estimate your eligibility for Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits (subsidies) for 2026 plans.
This is a reference value. You can find the official 2026 FPL figures when they are released, or use a reliable estimate.
2026
Your estimated subsidy amount will appear here.
Understanding ACA Subsidies (Premium Tax Credits) for 2026
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), often referred to as Obamacare, provides financial assistance in the form of Premium Tax Credits (PTCs), commonly known as subsidies. These subsidies help lower the monthly cost of health insurance premiums for individuals and families who purchase coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace and meet certain income requirements. The goal is to make health insurance more affordable and accessible.
How Subsidies are Calculated
The amount of subsidy you receive is determined by comparing your household income to the Federal Poverty Line (FPL). The government sets income eligibility ranges, and the percentage of your income that is considered "affordable" for a benchmark health plan decreases as your income rises relative to the FPL.
The calculation generally follows these steps:
Determine Household Income: This is typically your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI).
Determine Household Size: The number of individuals you claim on your federal tax return.
Find the Federal Poverty Line (FPL): For the given year and household size.
Calculate Income as a Percentage of FPL: (Household Income / FPL) * 100%.
Determine the "Affordability Threshold": The ACA sets a sliding scale. For a given year, there's a maximum percentage of household income that is considered affordable for a benchmark health plan. For example, if your income is between 100% and 150% of the FPL, the benchmark plan premium should cost no more than a certain percentage of your income. This percentage decreases as your income rises. For incomes above 400% FPL, subsidies were previously unavailable, but the American Rescue Plan Act and Inflation Reduction Act have made subsidies available to all income levels through 2025. We are projecting these expanded rules may continue or be modified for 2026.
Calculate the Subsidy Amount: The subsidy is the difference between the premium for the benchmark silver plan and the amount considered affordable for your income. Subsidy = (Benchmark Silver Plan Premium) – (Affordable Premium Contribution).
Key Factors for 2026
Income Brackets: Eligibility and subsidy amounts are based on your MAGI relative to the FPL.
Benchmark Plan: The subsidy is calculated based on the second-lowest cost Silver plan available in your area.
Household Size: Affects the FPL.
Geographic Location: Affects the cost of benchmark plans.
Coverage Year: Subsidies are specific to the year the coverage begins.
Important Considerations
This calculator provides an ESTIMATE. Actual subsidy amounts may vary based on the specific plans available in your area, the final FPL figures for 2026, and individual circumstances.
You must enroll through the Health Insurance Marketplace (HealthCare.gov or your state's exchange) to receive subsidies.
You may need to reconcile your advance premium tax credits (APTCs) with your final income when you file your federal taxes.
The income eligibility rules, particularly for those earning more than 400% FPL, have been temporarily expanded. It is anticipated that these expanded rules may continue or be adjusted for 2026.
For the most accurate information, consult official Health Insurance Marketplace resources or a certified assister.
// Reference: Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credit (PTC) Income Guidelines
// These percentages are based on current law and may be subject to change.
// For 2026, we assume the expanded eligibility (no upper income limit for subsidies)
// and the 8.5% affordability threshold for those above 400% FPL might continue or be adjusted.
// These are illustrative percentages and actual figures for 2026 will be published by HHS.
// Illustrative 2026 Income Brackets as % of FPL (These are projections/assumptions)
// Actual 2026 FPL figures will be released by HHS. For demonstration, we use a placeholder FPL.
var incomeBrackets = [
{ maxFplPercent: 100, maxContributionPercent: 0.00 }, // Below 100% FPL: Not eligible for PTC directly (Medicaid eligibility instead)
{ maxFplPercent: 138, maxContributionPercent: 0.0344 }, // 100% to 138% FPL
{ maxFplPercent: 150, maxContributionPercent: 0.0344 }, // 100% to 150% FPL (merged for simplicity based on ARPA/IRA)
{ maxFplPercent: 200, maxContributionPercent: 0.0595 }, // 150% to 200% FPL
{ maxFplPercent: 250, maxContributionPercent: 0.0700 }, // 200% to 250% FPL
{ maxFplPercent: 300, maxContributionPercent: 0.0800 }, // 250% to 300% FPL
{ maxFplPercent: 400, maxContributionPercent: 0.0850 }, // 300% to 400% FPL
{ maxFplPercent: 600, maxContributionPercent: 0.0850 }, // 400% to 600% FPL (projected continued ARPA/IRA benefit)
{ maxFplPercent: Infinity, maxContributionPercent: 0.0850 } // Above 600% FPL (projected continued ARPA/IRA benefit)
];
// Illustrative Average Monthly Premium for a Benchmark Silver Plan (This is a placeholder and varies greatly by region and age)
// For demonstration purposes, let's assume an average national benchmark premium.
// In reality, this would be specific to location and age group.
var averageBenchmarkSilverPremiumMonthly = 550; // Placeholder: Average monthly cost for a benchmark Silver plan
function calculateSubsidy() {
var householdIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("householdIncome").value);
var householdSize = parseInt(document.getElementById("householdSize").value);
var federalPovertyLine = parseFloat(document.getElementById("federalPovertyLine").value);
// var coverageYear = parseInt(document.getElementById("coverageYear").value); // Not used in calculation logic for now, but good for context
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Your estimated subsidy will appear here.'; // Reset message
// — Input Validation —
if (isNaN(householdIncome) || householdIncome < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid household income.';
return;
}
if (isNaN(householdSize) || householdSize <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid household size.';
return;
}
if (isNaN(federalPovertyLine) || federalPovertyLine <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid Federal Poverty Line figure for your household size.';
return;
}
// — Calculations —
var incomeAsPercentOfFpl = (householdIncome / federalPovertyLine) * 100;
var affordablePremiumContributionMonthly = 0;
var maxContributionPercent = 0;
var subsidyEligible = false;
// Special case: Incomes below 100% FPL are generally eligible for Medicaid, not PTC.
// However, ARPA/IRA temporarily extended subsidies up to 150% FPL.
if (incomeAsPercentOfFpl < 100) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Your estimated income is below 100% of the Federal Poverty Line. You may be eligible for Medicaid or CHIP. Please check your state\'s specific guidelines.';
return;
}
for (var i = 0; i < incomeBrackets.length; i++) {
if (incomeAsPercentOfFpl <= incomeBrackets[i].maxFplPercent) {
maxContributionPercent = incomeBrackets[i].maxContributionPercent;
subsidyEligible = true;
break;
}
}
if (subsidyEligible) {
affordablePremiumContributionMonthly = householdIncome * (maxContributionPercent / 12);
var estimatedMonthlySubsidy = Math.max(0, averageBenchmarkSilverPremiumMonthly – affordablePremiumContributionMonthly);
var estimatedAnnualSubsidy = estimatedMonthlySubsidy * 12;
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Estimated Monthly Subsidy: $' + estimatedMonthlySubsidy.toFixed(2) + '' +
'Estimated Annual Subsidy: $' + estimatedAnnualSubsidy.toFixed(2) + '' +
'Your income is approx. ' + incomeAsPercentOfFpl.toFixed(1) + '% of the FPL.';
} else {
// This path is less likely with the assumed expanded eligibility, but good as a fallback.
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Based on the provided information and current projections, you may not be eligible for a premium tax credit. Please consult official Marketplace information.';
}
}