The 2016 Federal Poverty Level Guidelines (Used in 2016 and 2017)

Understanding the Federal Poverty Guidelines for Determining Cost Assistance For 2016 Medicaid and CHIP and Assistance on Plans Active in 2017

Below are the 2016 Federal Poverty Guidelines used for cost assistance on 2017 health plans, 2016 Medicaid / CHIP, and taxes filed April 15, 2018.

See other guidelines from past years here (including the ones you need to file taxes by April 15th, 2017).

You’ll the 2016 FPL guidelines for Medicaid until late January when the new poverty level guidelines are released. Then starting February you’ll use the 2017 FPL guidelines for Medicaid.

• Premium Tax Credits are available to those making between 100% – 400% of the poverty level (FPL).
• Out-of-pocket cost assistance is available to those making between 100%-250% FPL.
• Medicaid/CHIP is available to everyone making less than 138% FPL, in states that expanded Medicaid. States that didn’t expand have different rules and CHIP eligibility is typically higher in all states.

Learn more about 2017 cost assistance.

TIP: New poverty guidelines are released each year, which table you use depends on which program we are discussing. Specifically, the table below is useful for determining healthcare cost assistance for the 2017 open enrollment season (Nov, 1 2016 – Jan, 31 3017) and all plans otherwise purchased in 2017.

TIP: To find any other poverty level amount, multiply the 100% poverty level dollar amount by the a percentage of the poverty level. If you want to see what 400% of the poverty level is, you can multiply the 100% Federal Poverty Level dollar amount by 4.00 (so for a 1 person household it is $11,880 x 4.00 = $47,520). For 300% FPL multiply by 3.00. For 250% FPL multiply by 2.50. For 138% FPL multiply by 1.38 etc.

TIP: Always round up to the nearest dollar for poverty levels and taxes. More information on the poverty level can be found on tax forms including the 8962 tax form.

TIP: Below are the tables you’ll need for cost assistance (the 2016 table) and the table you’ll need for Medicaid and CHIP (the 2017 table). Hence 2016-2017 Federal poverty levels. If you are filing taxes for April 17, 2017 you’ll want the 2015 table.

Simplified 2016 FPL Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and DC (not Alaska and Hawaii). You’ll use these guidelines for 2017 cost assistance and for taxes filed April 15, 2018 

NOTE: If your family contained more than 8 people, add $4,160 for each additional person. Note that Hawaii and Alaska use different guidelines. This is unchanged from 2015.

2016 Federal Poverty Guidelines – For Alaska and Hawaii