2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines (For 2026 Coverage)
The 2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines (for 2026 Cost Assistance and 2025 Medicaid/CHIP)
Below are the 2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines that went into effect in early 2025 (the ones you use for 2025 Medicaid/CHIP and for 2026 marketplace cost assistance).[1]
These guidelines are the key to all cost assistance under the Affordable Care Act. Specifically, these guidelines are used for:
- Medicaid/CHIP between late Jan 2025 – Jan 2026 after the poverty level guidelines are published (exact dates subject to change each year).
- 2026 marketplace cost assistance on all marketplace health plans held in 2025–2026 and purchased during open enrollment for 2026 (which runs from November 1, 2025 to January 15, 2026).
- For special enrollment in 2026.
- For ACA taxes filed for the 2026 calendar year (filed in 2027).
NOTE: Our federal poverty guideline list includes the 100% poverty level, the 138% Medicaid expansion threshold, the 250% CSR subsidy threshold, and the 400% premium tax credit threshold. These allow you to determine cost-assistance eligibility at a glance.
NOTE: The 400% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Subsidy Cliff enhancement (no cutoff above 400% FPL) expired after 2025 unless further legislation extends it, meaning **traditional 100%–400% eligibility applies for 2026**.
TIP: For mobile and smaller screen sizes, drag the table below to scroll and see the different poverty levels.
The following guideline figures represent annual income.
| 2025 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR THE 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persons in Family/Household | 100% FPL | 138% FPL: Medicaid Expansion Threshold | 250% FPL: CSR Subsidy Cap | 400% FPL: Premium Tax Credit Upper Limit (Traditional Rule) |
| 1 | $15,650 | $21,597 | $39,125 | $62,600 |
| 2 | $21,150 | $29,187 | $52,875 | $84,600 |
| 3 | $26,650 | $36,777 | $66,625 | $106,600 |
| 4 | $32,150 | $44,367 | $80,375 | $128,600 |
| 5 | $37,650 | $51,957 | $94,125 | $150,600 |
| 6 | $43,150 | $59,547 | $107,875 | $172,600 |
| 7 | $48,650 | $67,137 | $121,625 | $194,600 |
| 8 | $54,150 | $74,727 | $135,375 | $216,600 |
| For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $5,500 for each additional person. | ||||
NOTE: Alaska and Hawaii use different guidelines (see below).
| Persons in family/household | Poverty guideline |
|---|---|
| 1 | $19,550 |
| 2 | $26,430 |
| 3 | $33,310 |
| 4 | $40,190 |
| 5 | $47,070 |
| 6 | $53,950 |
| 7 | $60,830 |
| 8 | $67,710 |
For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $6,880 for each additional person.
| Persons in family/household | Poverty guideline |
|---|---|
| 1 | $17,990 |
| 2 | $24,320 |
| 3 | $30,650 |
| 4 | $36,980 |
| 5 | $43,310 |
| 6 | $49,640 |
| 7 | $55,970 |
| 8 | $62,300 |
For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $6,330 for each additional person.
FACT: The Federal Register notice for the 2025 Poverty Guidelines was published on January 17, 2025.
How to calculate a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level: Medicaid uses 138% of the Federal Poverty level to determine assistance. The math works like this. Take the published guideline dollar amount, multiply by 1.38, and then round to the nearest whole number. So, for example, $15,650 × 1.38 = $21,597. Therefore, $21,597 is 138% of the Federal Poverty Level threshold for 2025 Medicaid and CHIP. The methodology is the same for all FPL percentages.
Medicaid and CHIP: You can sign up for Medicaid and CHIP 365 days a year. You may qualify for free or low-cost care for Medicaid based on income and family size if you make 138% of the poverty level or, for example, $21,597 individual or $44,367 for a family of four in 2025. Specifics may differ by state.
Healthcare Cost Assistance: You may qualify for marketplace cost assistance based on income and family size each year if you make between 100% – 400% of the federal poverty level. For 2026 assistance, you’ll use the 2025 poverty levels. Please note marketplace cost assistance can be taken in advance based on projected income but is adjusted for actual income at tax time.
- A Notice by the Health and Human Services Department on 01/17/2025. Federalregister.gov.
Author: Thomas DeMichele
Thomas DeMichele is the head writer and founder of ObamaCareFacts.com, FactsOnMedicare.com, and other websites. He has been in the health insurance and healthcare information field since 2012. ObamaCareFacts.com is a...
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