Free Tool · 2027 Coverage

Could You Qualify for Health Insurance Savings?

Reviewed by the FamilyInsured licensed health agent team · Updated October 2026

Answer four quick questions and see your likelihood of qualifying for ACA subsidies — based on the published 2026 federal poverty guidelines. Instant, private, and nothing is submitted anywhere.

Estimates only — your real eligibility is determined when you apply. FamilyInsured is a private insurance agency, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to healthcare.gov, the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid, Medicare, or any government agency.

Your 60-second eligibility check

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Household size (you + spouse + tax dependents)

Expected 2027 annual household income (before taxes)

State

Age bracket (oldest applicant)

My employer offers affordable coverage

Enter your expected 2027 household income to run the check.

Get your real number from a licensed agent — 60 seconds

Important: FamilyInsured is a private insurance agency, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to healthcare.gov, the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid, Medicare, or any government agency. This tool gives an educational estimate only — it is not an eligibility determination, an application, or an offer of coverage. Your actual subsidy eligibility is determined when you apply.

The mechanics

How ACA subsidies actually work

ACA subsidies — formally, premium tax credits — cap what your household pays for a benchmark marketplace plan at a percentage of your income. The lower your income relative to the federal poverty guideline for your household size, the smaller that percentage is. The government pays the rest of the premium directly to the plan, month by month, so the savings show up immediately — not at tax time.

Two things most people get wrong: the credit is based on your expected income for the coverage year, not last year's W-2, and it's reconciled on your tax return afterward — so an honest estimate matters. Subsidies also shrink as income rises; they don't cut off a dollar at a time, they phase out.

Read the full plain-English guide to ACA subsidies →

Real deadlines

Open Enrollment runs Nov 1 – Jan 15

Open Enrollment for 2027 marketplace coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027 in most states. Outside that window, you generally need a qualifying life event — like losing job-based coverage, moving, or a change in household — to enroll.

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Want coverage starting January 1, 2027? Enroll by December 15, 2026. Enrollments from December 16 through January 15 generally start February 1.

See the full Open Enrollment 2027 guide →

Timing

Why check now

Subsidy rules and amounts change year to year. What you qualified for (or didn't) last time you looked may not be true for 2027. Checking takes a minute; assuming can cost you all year.
The December 15 deadline comes fast. Running your numbers in October or November means you can compare plans calmly instead of scrambling the week of the cutoff.
An estimate narrows the search. Knowing roughly where you land against the poverty guideline tells a licensed agent which plans and savings to check first — so your call is 15 minutes, not an hour. If you're also budgeting, our health insurance cost guide explains what actually drives what you pay.
Self-employed and 1099? Your net income estimate drives everything — the self-employed health insurance guide covers how to estimate it honestly without over- or under-shooting.

Straight answers

Subsidy checker FAQ

What income counts for ACA subsidies?

Subsidies are based on MAGI — modified adjusted gross income. In plain English: the adjusted gross income from your tax return, plus any tax-exempt interest, untaxed Social Security benefits, and excluded foreign income. For most households it's very close to the AGI line on the 1040. It includes wages, net self-employment income, unemployment compensation, and most other taxable income — and it's your expected income for the year you'll be covered (2027), not last year's. See healthcare.gov's income counting rules.

What if my income changes mid-year?

Report the change to the Marketplace as soon as it happens. Your subsidy is recalculated going forward, which keeps your advance payments close to what you'll actually qualify for. Updating promptly is the single best way to avoid an unpleasant surprise at tax time.

Do I ever have to pay subsidies back?

Sometimes, yes — and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. Subsidies are advance payments of a tax credit based on your estimated income. At tax time they're reconciled on IRS Form 8962 against what you actually earned. Earned more than you estimated? You may repay part of the advance (repayment caps protect lower incomes). Earned less? You may get additional credit back as a refund. Honest estimates and mid-year updates keep this from ever being a problem.

Can self-employed people get subsidies?

Yes. Subsidies are based on your net self-employment income (after business expenses) as part of household MAGI — there's no employer requirement. Many self-employed people also qualify for the self-employed health insurance deduction on top of any subsidy, which is one reason it's worth having a professional run the numbers both ways. Our self-employed coverage guide goes deeper.

What is the coverage gap?

In states that haven't expanded Medicaid — Florida among them — some adults earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but less than 100% of the federal poverty guideline, which is the floor for marketplace subsidies. That's the coverage gap. If you're near that line, exactly how your income is counted matters enormously, and a licensed agent can check in minutes whether you clear the threshold or have other options.