ACA Subsidy Calculator (2026)

Estimate your 2026 health insurance subsidy — the premium tax credit — and see exactly how close you are to the 400% subsidy cliff that's back this year. Free, no signup, runs in your browser.

Your data stays in your browser No signup. No email. 2026 coverage year

For 2026, ACA premium tax credits go to households earning 100%–400% of the federal poverty level — roughly $15,650–$62,600 for one person or $32,150–$128,600 for a family of four (using the 2025 poverty guidelines). Your subsidy equals the benchmark Silver plan's premium minus an expected contribution based on your income. In 2026 the 400% cap is a hard cliff: one dollar over and the subsidy drops to $0. Enter your details below for your estimate.

What this is and why it matters

When you buy your own health insurance through the government's Health Insurance Marketplace (sometimes called "Obamacare" or the ACA exchange), you may qualify for a premium tax credit — a subsidy that lowers your monthly premium. How much you get depends mostly on your income compared to the federal poverty level and on the cost of plans where you live.

This calculator estimates that subsidy for the 2026 coverage year. It tells you what percent of the poverty level your income is, what the rules expect you to pay toward a plan, and your estimated monthly credit. It also warns you when you're near the subsidy cliff — the income line where a small raise can cost you the entire subsidy. You don't need to know any insurance jargon; each field explains itself, and there's a glossary at the bottom.

About your household
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Help me estimate my income (MAGI)

Enter what you can; we'll add it up. MAGI is mostly your income minus pre-tax retirement and HSA contributions, plus a few add-backs.

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Ages of people who need a Marketplace plan

Premiums are based on age. Leave out anyone covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or a job plan.

We'll add one age field per person in your household. Adjust the ages to match who actually needs coverage.

Enter your state, household size, income, and ages to see your estimated subsidy.

What changed for 2026

From 2021 through 2025, temporary "enhanced" subsidies (from the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act) made the premium tax credit larger and removed the income cap entirely. Those enhancements expired on December 31, 2025. For the 2026 coverage year, the original Affordable Care Act rules return:

  • The 400% subsidy cliff is back: earn even one dollar over 400% of the poverty level and your premium tax credit drops to zero.
  • Expected contributions are higher across the board — the "required contribution percentage" tops out at 9.96% of income (per IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-25).
  • People between 100% and 150% of the poverty level no longer get a fully subsidized benchmark plan; a small expected contribution returns.

The practical effect: subsidies are smaller in 2026 than in 2025, and the cliff makes income planning near 400% of FPL matter a lot. That's why this calculator highlights your distance from the cliff.

2026 federal poverty level (FPL) by household size

2026 coverage uses the 2025 HHS poverty guidelines (a coverage year always uses the prior year's guidelines). The table below is for the 48 contiguous states and DC; Alaska and Hawaii use higher figures, which the calculator applies automatically when you pick those states.

Annual income at each percent of the federal poverty level — 48 states & DC, 2026 coverage.
Household size 100% 138% 150% 200% 250% 400% (cliff)

100% = Medicaid/subsidy floor · 138% = Medicaid limit in expansion states · 250% = cost-sharing reduction limit · 400% = subsidy cliff.

How this calculator works

We follow the standard HealthCare.gov / IRS method, step by step:

  1. Income as a percent of FPL = your household MAGI ÷ the poverty level for your household size and state.
  2. Applicable percentage — your %FPL maps to a required-contribution percentage on the 2026 IRS schedule, interpolated within each income band.
  3. Expected contribution = MAGI × applicable percentage. This is what you're expected to pay toward the benchmark plan for the year.
  4. Benchmark premium = the second-lowest-cost Silver plan (SLCSP), age-rated for each enrollee using the federal age curve.
  5. Premium tax credit = benchmark premium − expected contribution (never below zero). You can apply that credit to any plan.

See the full methodology for the formulas and the prior-year poverty-guideline rule. Benchmark premiums at launch are state-average estimates pending county-level data from the CMS public-use files; your real benchmark may differ, so confirm on the Marketplace.

Frequently asked questions

What are the ACA income limits for a subsidy in 2026?
Generally 100%–400% of the federal poverty level, using the 2025 HHS guidelines: about $15,650–$62,600 for one person, or $32,150–$128,600 for a family of four. In 2026 the 400% line is a hard cliff.
Is the ACA subsidy cliff back in 2026?
Yes. The enhanced subsidies expired December 31, 2025, so the pre-2021 rules — including the 400% FPL cliff — return for 2026. Above 400% of FPL you get no premium tax credit.
How is the premium tax credit calculated?
Your income as a percent of FPL sets a required-contribution percentage. Income × that percentage is your expected contribution. The credit is the benchmark Silver plan's premium minus that contribution, never less than zero.
What is the benchmark plan (SLCSP)?
The second-lowest-cost Silver plan available to you. The government uses its premium to size your subsidy, but you can apply the credit to any plan — choosing one cheaper than the benchmark lowers your out-of-pocket premium.
Which year's income do I use?
Your best estimate of your income for the coverage year itself (2026 income for 2026 coverage). The Marketplace reconciles your advance credit against your actual income when you file, so an accurate projection matters.
What if my income is below the poverty level?
In Medicaid-expansion states, adults up to 138% of FPL usually qualify for Medicaid. In non-expansion states, people below 100% of FPL can fall into a coverage gap. The calculator flags which applies to your state.
What are cost-sharing reductions?
Extra savings that cut your deductible and out-of-pocket costs (not your premium), available at or below 250% of FPL if you pick a Silver plan.

Glossary

Plain-English definitions for the terms on this page.

Sources

  • IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-25 — 2026 applicable percentage table & required contribution percentage. irs.gov
  • HHS / ASPE — 2025 Poverty Guidelines (used for 2026 coverage). aspe.hhs.gov
  • CMS — Marketplace plan-landscape & SLCSP public-use files (benchmark premiums). data.healthcare.gov
  • CMS — Default Standard Age Curve (premium age rating). cms.gov
  • Cross-check: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator. kff.org

Learn more & related calculators

Guide: How ACA subsidies work

The premium-tax-credit formula, the 400% cliff, and a worked example — in plain English.

COBRA vs Marketplace

Lost your job? Compare COBRA against a subsidized Marketplace plan.

Self-Employed Health Deduction

The circular Pub 974 calculation, with every loop shown.