Health Insurance Subsidy Calculator
Find your ACA premium tax credit and compare marketplace plans
How to Use This Calculator
Tab “My Subsidy Amount”
Enter your household income (MAGI), household size, age, and filing status. The calculator computes your Federal Poverty Level percentage, determines the maximum premium you should pay as a percentage of income, and shows your estimated monthly premium tax credit — the amount the government pays toward your marketplace health insurance.
Tab “After-Subsidy Premium”
Same inputs, but the output shows your estimated monthly cost for each plan tier — Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum — after applying your subsidy. Silver plans at lower income levels also include Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSR) that lower deductibles and copays, making Silver the best value for most subsidized enrollees.
Tab “Marketplace vs Employer”
Add your employer monthly premium and coverage type to compare costs. The calculator checks whether your employer plan is “affordable” under the ACA (employee-only premium under 8.39% of household income). If it is, you are not eligible for marketplace subsidies. If it is not, you may save significantly on the marketplace.
2026 ACA Subsidy Rules
Subsidy = Silver Benchmark Premium − (Your Income × Applicable Percentage)
2026 Federal Poverty Level (FPL):
1 person: $15,060 | 2 people: $20,440 | 3 people: $25,820 | 4 people: $31,200
Add $5,380 per additional household member
Sliding Scale — Max Premium as % of Income:
| Income % FPL | Max Premium % of Income |
|---|---|
| Up to 150% | 0% |
| 150–200% | 0–2.0% |
| 200–250% | 2.0–4.0% |
| 250–300% | 4.0–6.0% |
| 300–400% | 6.0–8.5% |
| 400%+ | 8.5% cap (ARPA extension) |
If employee-only premium is below this threshold, you cannot get marketplace subsidies.
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), originally passed in 2021 and extended through the Inflation Reduction Act, eliminated the “subsidy cliff” at 400% FPL. Before ARPA, households above 400% FPL received zero help. Now, premiums are capped at 8.5% of income for everyone, regardless of how high your income is. This extension is expected to continue through 2026.
Example
The Garcia Family — Family of 4, $60,000 Household Income
The Garcia family receives approximately $1,165 per month in premium tax credits. Their Silver plan costs just $85/month instead of $1,250. They also qualify for Cost-Sharing Reductions, which lower their deductible from $3,000 to around $250 and reduce copays significantly. A Bronze plan would cost them $0/month, but without CSR benefits.