ACA Subsidy Calculator
| 2026 income (% of FPL) | Initial share | Final share |
|---|---|---|
| under 133% | 2.10% | 2.10% |
| 133% to under 150% | 3.14% | 4.19% |
| 150% to under 200% | 4.19% | 6.60% |
| 200% to under 250% | 6.60% | 8.44% |
| 250% to under 300% | 8.44% | 9.96% |
| 300% to 400% | 9.96% | 9.96% |
| over 400% | no credit - the cliff | |
| Income at… | 1 person | Family of 4 | Family of 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 133% | $21,227 → $56/mo | $43,890 → $115/mo | $74,108 → $194/mo |
| 150% | $23,940 → $84/mo | $49,500 → $173/mo | $83,580 → $292/mo |
| 200% | $31,920 → $176/mo | $66,000 → $363/mo | $111,440 → $613/mo |
| 250% | $39,900 → $281/mo | $82,500 → $580/mo | $139,300 → $980/mo |
| 300% | $47,880 → $397/mo | $99,000 → $822/mo | $167,160 → $1387/mo |
| 400% | $63,840 → $530/mo | $132,000 → $1096/mo | $222,880 → $1850/mo |
The ACA premium tax credit pays the part of a benchmark silver plan your income does not have to: you contribute a set share of household income and the credit covers the rest. For 2026 that math got pricier - the enhanced credits that capped contributions at 8.5% and smoothed the tiers expired on December 31, 2025, so the official table now runs from 2.10% of income at the bottom to 9.96% at 400% of the poverty line - and above 400% the credit is simply zero. The cliff is back.
This calculator prices that 2026 table directly: household size and region set your poverty line (the 2026 guidelines from the Federal Register), your MAGI sets the share, and a benchmark silver premium - the second-lowest-cost silver plan in your area, the SLCSP - converts the share into an actual dollar credit. No zip code needed: the SLCSP is one number your marketplace shows before you even apply.
How to use
- Household income means MAGI: adjusted gross income plus tax-exempt interest and non-taxable Social Security. Project the coverage year - for 2027 plans picked this fall, estimate what you will earn in 2027.
- Find your SLCSP: on healthcare.gov or your state marketplace, the plan preview shows the second-lowest-cost silver premium for your age before you apply. The credit is anchored to it even if you buy gold or bronze.
- Read the three numbers: your share (the applicable percentage of income), the credit (SLCSP minus your share, per month), and the headroom to the 400% cliff - crossing it by a dollar zeroes the whole credit, and for tax years after 2025 there is no cap on repaying overpaid advance credits.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my subsidy smaller in 2026 than last year?
The enhanced credits from the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act expired December 31, 2025. The 2026 official table (Rev. Proc. 2025-25) starts at 2.10% of income where 2025 charged 0% below 133% FPL, tops out at 9.96% where 2025 capped at 8.5%, and the 400%-of-poverty eligibility cliff is back: a family of four at $132,001 now gets nothing.
What income exactly counts?
Marketplace MAGI: your adjusted gross income plus tax-exempt interest, non-taxable Social Security, and excluded foreign income. 401(k) and HSA payroll deductions reduce it; Roth conversions and capital gains raise it. You estimate the coverage year now and reconcile the advance credit on Form 8962 at tax time.
Where do I find my SLCSP number?
The second-lowest-cost silver plan premium for your age and county. Healthcare.gov shows it in the plan preview before login - read the silver column and take the second-cheapest; state marketplaces publish the same. It anchors the credit math even though you may enroll in a different metal level.
What happens just above 400% of poverty?
Nothing good: the credit drops to zero with no phase-out, so one dollar of extra income can cost a household more than ten thousand dollars a year. And the old repayment caps are gone for tax years after 2025 - if advance credits were paid and your final income lands over the line, the full excess is due back on Form 8962.
My income is under 100% of poverty - can I still get a credit?
Usually no: under 100% FPL the law expects Medicaid, and in states that have not expanded it, adults land in the coverage gap with no credit and no Medicaid. The exception is lawfully present non-citizens who are Medicaid-ineligible - they can receive marketplace credits at the 2.10% floor.