ACA subsidy calculator
Estimate your 2026 Marketplace premium tax credit, what you are expected to contribute toward the benchmark plan, and the premium you would actually pay each month.
Your household
Income is the household's expected modified adjusted gross income for 2026.
You, your spouse and dependents, whether or not covered
Second-lowest-cost silver plan for those enrolling
Any metal tier, before the credit
Alaska and Hawaii have higher poverty guidelines
2026 expected contribution by income
How much of your income you are expected to pay for the benchmark plan, for a household of 4.
| Share of poverty line | Household income | You pay |
|---|---|---|
| 0% to 133% | $0 to $42,760 | 2.10% |
| 133% to 150% | $42,760 to $48,225 | 3.14% to 4.19% |
| 150% to 200% | $48,225 to $64,300 | 4.19% to 6.60% |
| 200% to 250% | $64,300 to $80,375 | 6.60% to 8.44% |
| 250% to 300% | $80,375 to $96,450 | 8.44% to 9.96% |
| 300% to 400% | $96,450 to $128,600 | 9.96% |
Above 400% of the poverty line ($128,600 for this household) there is no credit. Below 100% most states offer Medicaid instead.
Warren provides educational information, not individualized financial, tax or legal advice. Read our disclaimers.
Getting the most from Marketplace coverage
Benchmark, not your plan
The credit is set by the second-lowest silver plan in your area and your ages, not by the plan you pick. Find the benchmark premium on your Marketplace's plan comparison page before using this tool.
Manage income near thresholds
Retirement contributions, HSA deposits and timing of IRA withdrawals or capital gains all move your income. Below 400% every dollar of income costs about 10 cents of credit, and at 400% it costs everything.
Cost-sharing reductions
Below 250% of the poverty line a silver plan also comes with lower deductibles and copays. Between 100% and 150% the plan can look like a platinum plan at a silver price.
Early retirees
Marketplace coverage bridges the gap to Medicare at 65. Living on Roth withdrawals and taxable savings with high basis keeps income low and the credit high.
Frequently asked questions
- How is the premium tax credit calculated?
- The credit is the cost of the benchmark plan (the second-lowest-cost silver plan available to your household) minus the amount you are expected to pay, which is a percentage of your income that rises from 2.1% near the poverty line to 9.96% at 300% to 400% of it. You can put the credit toward any Marketplace plan, so a cheaper bronze plan may cost little or nothing.
- What changed for 2026?
- The enhanced subsidies that applied from 2021 to 2025 expired. Households above 400% of the federal poverty line no longer qualify for any credit, and the expected contribution percentages went back up at every income level. Many people will see much higher net premiums for 2026 than they paid in 2025.
- What income counts?
- Modified adjusted gross income for the whole tax household: adjusted gross income plus tax-exempt interest, non-taxable Social Security and excluded foreign income. Pre-tax 401(k) contributions, HSA contributions and traditional IRA contributions all reduce it, which can be a powerful way to stay below the 400% cliff.
- What is the subsidy cliff?
- At 400% of the poverty line the credit stops completely rather than tapering off. For a family of four in 2026 that is $68,600 of income. One dollar more and the whole credit, often $10,000 or more for a family, is lost. The calculator flags when you are within 10% of the line.
- What if my income changes during the year?
- Credits are paid in advance based on your estimate and reconciled on your tax return. Earn more than estimated and you repay some or all of the advance; earn less and you get the difference back. Report income changes to the Marketplace promptly, and consider taking less than the full advance credit if your income is uncertain.
Keep your income where the credit is biggest
Warren AI tracks your household income through the year and shows how a retirement contribution or a delayed withdrawal changes next year's premium credit.