List of Federal Poverty Levels

A List of Federal Poverty Level Guidelines By Year For ObamaCare, Medicaid, and Other Assistance Programs

Below is a list of Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Guideline tables for each year since 2013. This can be helpful to see at a glance since you’ll need to use different tables for different programs.

Where Can I find the official Poverty Level? Each year HHS publishes the Federal Poverty Level guidelines in the Federal Register. After that they go into effect. This is typically late January. At that point all programs that use this year’s tables start using those tables. On this page we have a collection and explanation of the guidelines, but you can always go directly to the source to confirm specifics (that is, you can check HHS.gov or the Federal Register).

What is the Federal Poverty Level Used For? Federal poverty levels are used to see if you qualify for cost assistance when buying health insurance through the State or Federal Health Insurance Marketplace. They are also used to help determine Medicaid and CHIP eligibility. They are also used to help determine eligibility for some other non-healthcare related assistance programs. Further, you’ll need to reference specific tables when doing your taxes. This means in given year you could end up having to reference tables from a range of other years… given that, we’ve provided all the tables in one place.

Which tables should I Use? Some programs use last year’s tables (like marketplace cost assistance), some use the current year’s tables after they are published early in the year (like Medicaid/CHIP). The table you’ll need to reference depends on what you are doing. For example for assistance on 2020 health coverage, you’ll use the 2019 Federal Poverty Levels. Then when you file taxes for that by April 2021, you’ll again use those same 2019 tables (since you are accounting for assistance on that 2020 coverage). Meanwhile, after the poverty levels come out in early 2019, you’ll use the 2019 tables for Medicaid and CHIP (until then you’ll still use the 2018 tables). And so it goes for other programs.

TIP: The poverty level is adjusted upwards every year to account for inflation. This means each year you may end up qualifying for different amounts of assistance if your income stays the same.

The 2019 Federal Poverty Guidelines (for 2020 Cost assistance and 2019 Medicaid/CHIP)

Below are the 2019 Federal Poverty Guidelines that went into effect in early 2019 (the ones you use for Medicaid/CHIP in 2019 and for 2020 marketplace cost assistance).

NOTE: Alaska and Hawaii use different guidelines (see this link to guidelines as published on HHS.Gov).

How to calculate a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level: Medicaid uses the 138% of the Federal Poverty level to determine assistance. Until we update this, take the guideline dollar amount below, multiply by 1.38, and then round up. So $12,490 x 1.38 = $17,236.20. Thus, $17,237 is 138% of the Federal Poverty Level threshold for 2019 Medicaid and CHIP. The methodology is the same for all FPL percentages.

The 2018 Federal Poverty Guidelines (For 2019 Cost Assistance and 2018 Medicaid/CHIP)

Below are the 2018 Federal Poverty Guidelines that went into effect in early 2018 (the ones you use for Medicaid/CHIP in 2018 and for 2019 marketplace cost assistance).

NOTE: Alaska and Hawaii use different guidelines (see this link to guidelines as published on HHS.Gov).

The 2017 Federal Poverty Guidelines (For 2018 Cost Assistance and 2017 Medicaid/CHIP)

Below are the 2017 Federal Poverty Guidelines that went into effect in early 2018 (the ones you use for Medicaid/CHIP in 2017 and for 2018 marketplace cost assistance).

IMPORTANT: See the 2017 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR ALASKA AND HAWAII from HHS. See the most recent Federal Register notice of the 2017 poverty guidelines, published January 31, 2017.

The 2013 – 2016 Tables

Simplified 2016 FPL Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and DC (not Alaska and Hawaii). You’ll use these guidelines for 2017 cost assistance, for 2016 Medicaid and CHIP, and you’ll need these 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.

Simplified 2015 FPL Guidelines you’ll use for 2016 cost assistance, 2015 Medicaid and CHIP, and for taxes filed April 15, 2017

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

Simplified 2014 FPL Guidelines you will use for 2015 cost assistance, 2014 Medicaid and CHIP, and taxes filed April 15, 2016

NOTE: If your family size was more than 8 people, add $4,060 for each additional person. Note that Hawaii and Alaska use different guidelines.

Simplified 2013 FPL Guidelines you’ll use for 2014 cost assistance, 2013 Medicaid and CHIP, and taxes filed April 15, 2015

NOTE: If your family size was more than 8 people, add $4,020 for each additional person. For example, if your family size is 11, you have 3 additional people. Multiply $4,020 by 3 and add the result of $12,060 to $39,630. Enter the result of $51,690 on Form 8962, line 4. Note that Hawaii and Alaska use different guidelines.