2026 ObamaCare Eligibility Chart and Subsidy Calculator
This page features a 2026 ObamaCare eligibility chart, the 2025 federal poverty level used for 2026 subsidies, and a subsidy calculator.
ObamaCare Cost Assistance
To get assistance under the Affordable Care Act, you generally must earn between 100% – 400% of the poverty level. For 2026 coverage, that is $15,650-$62,600 for an individual and $32,150-$128,600 for a family of four.
With that said, things worked a little differently from 2021 through 2025. The 400% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Subsidy Cliff was temporarily removed by the American Rescue Plan and extended through 2025 by the Inflation Reduction Act. During those years, if you made over 400% FPL, tax credits gradually decreased as your taxable income rose, meaning there was no sharp cutoff or “subsidy cliff” at 400% FPL.
For 2026 coverage under current law, the traditional 100%-400% FPL subsidy range applies again (households above 400% FPL are generally not eligible for premium tax credits unless future legislation changes this).
The types of assistance offered under the Affordable Care Act are:
- Premium Tax Credits
- Cost-Sharing Reduction Subsidies (Silver Plans only)
- Medicaid Expansion and CHIP
Each assistance type has different eligibility requirements based on income as a percentage of the federal poverty level.
Obamacare Eligibility Chart
The following is a 2026 ObamaCare eligibility chart.
| Types of Cost Assistance For 2026 | Individual Annual Income | Family of Four Annual Income |
| Medicaid health coverage (if your state decides to offer it) | Up to $21,597* | Up to $44,367* |
| Help to pay your premium (if you buy in your state’s online marketplace) | Between $15,650-$62,600
IMPORTANT: For 2026 coverage under current law, premium tax credits are generally available between 100% and 400% FPL. Households over 400% FPL typically will not qualify unless the law changes. |
Between $32,150-$128,600
IMPORTANT: For 2026 coverage under current law, premium tax credits are generally available between 100% and 400% FPL. Households over 400% FPL typically will not qualify unless the law changes. |
| Subsidies for out-of-pocket costs (if you buy a Silver plan in your state’s online marketplace) | Between $15,650-$39,125 | Between $32,150-$80,375 |
NOTE: Medicaid/CHIP eligibility and exact subsidy limits for 2026 are based on the 2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines. If HHS or Congress updates rules or thresholds, figures may change and should be re-checked against the latest Federal Poverty Guidelines and ACA guidance.
TIP: Want to find out what you can save quickly? Check out our Subsidy Calculator below. Or you can keep reading to find out more details on how assistance is calculated.
2026 ObamaCare Subsidy Calculator
Use the following subsidy calculator to determine if you qualify for 2026 assistance.
NOTE: The subsidy calculator below uses the currently available levels (including the 2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines used for 2026 coverage) to give you an idea of 2026 subsidy amounts. The exact amount of assistance you qualify for depends on your actual income.
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 has a 100% poverty level, 138% Medicaid expansion threshold, 250% CSR subsidy threshold, and 400% premium tax credit thresholds (with traditional 100%-400% eligibility applying in 2026 under current law). This lets you see at a glance what assistance you qualify for. Please note that for Medicaid Expansion, if you make under 138%, you qualify. For CSR, it is between 100% – 250%. And, for tax credits, it is generally between 100% and 400%. See details on subsidies under the ACA.
NOTE: The 400% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Subsidy Cliff was temporarily removed by the American Rescue Plan and extended through 2025 by the Inflation Reduction Act. For 2026 coverage, those enhancements are scheduled to expire unless extended by new legislation, meaning households above 400% FPL are generally not eligible for premium tax credits.
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: Minimum to Qualify for ACA Assistance | 138% FPL: Medicaid Cap (in States that Expanded) | 250% FPL: CSR Subsidies Cap | 400% FPL: 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.
- 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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