Calculate your premium tax credit and marketplace subsidy eligibility
Marketplace health insurance can be expensive, but premium tax credits through the ACA can slash your monthly costs—sometimes dramatically. This calculator helps you estimate what subsidies you qualify for based on your household income, size, and location. The math gets complicated fast, so we've automated it.
Premium subsidies are based on your household income compared to the federal poverty level. In 2025, the FPL is $15,060 for a single person, plus $5,380 for each additional household member. If your income falls between 100-400% of the FPL, you're likely eligible for subsidies that reduce your monthly premiums. The lower your income, the bigger the subsidy—people earning 150% of the FPL might pay just 2-4% of their income for a benchmark silver plan, with the tax credit covering the rest.
The calculator determines your maximum premium contribution based on your income, capped between 0-8.5% depending on where you fall relative to the FPL. It then estimates your local benchmark silver plan premium (the second-lowest cost silver plan in your area), and the difference between that premium and your capped contribution is your subsidy. That credit can be applied monthly to reduce your bills, or you can claim it all when filing taxes.
If your income is below 138% of the FPL and you live in a Medicaid expansion state, you'll likely qualify for Medicaid instead of marketplace subsidies. The calculator automatically checks this based on your state and income level, so you know whether to apply through Medicaid or the marketplace. In non-expansion states, there's unfortunately a coverage gap where you might earn too little for marketplace subsidies but your state hasn't expanded Medicaid.
Use this calculator to estimate your subsidy and understand your marketplace coverage options before you apply.