Syed Waleed

Health insurance open enrollment starts November 1 — and with the 2026 enhanced subsidies expired, your premium tax credit works differently this year. Enter your income, household size, and benchmark Silver premium to estimate your 2026 ACA subsidy and net monthly cost.

ACA Subsidy Calculator 2026: Estimate Your Obamacare Tax Credit

The enhanced premium tax credits expired — for 2026 the 400% FPL cliff is back. Enter your income, household size, and your area's benchmark Silver premium to see your estimated 2026 premium tax credit and what you'd actually pay each month.

Everyone you claim on your 2026 tax return (you, spouse, dependents).
$
Modified Adjusted Gross Income: your AGI plus tax-exempt interest, nontaxable Social Security, and excluded foreign income.
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Find it on HealthCare.gov when you preview 2026 plans. It drives the whole calculation.
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Leave 0 to skip. The credit can never exceed what your plan actually costs.
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Unlimited estimates, with the real 2026 IRS figures baked in.

How to estimate your 2026 ACA subsidy in 3 steps

  1. 1Enter your household and income

    Pick your tax household size and enter your best estimate of 2026 household income (MAGI). This sets your income as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level.

  2. 2Add your benchmark Silver premium

    The credit equals the benchmark Silver plan minus your required contribution. Preview plans on HealthCare.gov and copy the second-lowest-cost Silver plan's monthly premium.

  3. 3Read your estimate

    See your monthly and annual tax credit, your net monthly premium, and how close you are to the 400% FPL cliff where the credit drops to zero.

Why this 2026 calculator matters now

Real 2026 IRS table

Uses the actual 2026 applicable percentages from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-25 (2.10% to 9.96%), not last year's enhanced-credit numbers.

The cliff is back

The temporary 8.5% cap expired. Above 400% of FPL — $62,600 for a single person — the credit is exactly $0. This tool flags how close you are.

Proper linear interpolation

Your applicable percentage is interpolated within each income band, the same way the IRS does it on Form 8962 — not a rough flat rate.

Credit cap logic

The premium tax credit can never exceed your plan's actual premium. Enter your plan's price and the tool applies the cap.

Alaska & Hawaii FPL

Higher federal poverty guidelines for Alaska and Hawaii are built in, so their higher cliffs are correct too.

Reconciliation warning

If your final 2026 income differs from your estimate, you'll settle the difference on your tax return — the tool shows the formula so there are no surprises.

2026 ACA subsidy questions, answered

How is the 2026 premium tax credit calculated?
The credit equals your area's benchmark Silver plan (second-lowest-cost Silver) minus your required contribution — your income times the applicable percentage for your income band (2.10% to 9.96% in 2026, per IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-25). The credit can't exceed the benchmark premium, and it's reconciled on Form 8962 when you file.
What is the 400% FPL cliff in 2026?
For 2026, households above 400% of the Federal Poverty Level get $0 credit — no phase-out, just a cliff. In the 48 contiguous states that's $62,600 for a single person, $84,600 for a household of 2, $106,600 for 3, and $128,600 for a family of 4. Earning even $1 over the line wipes out the entire credit.
What changed from 2025?
The enhanced subsidies from the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act expired at the end of 2025. Those had capped everyone's required contribution at 8.5% of income and removed the cliff. For 2026 the original ACA formula returns: higher required contributions (up to 9.96%) and the hard 400% cliff.
Which poverty guidelines apply for 2026 coverage?
2026 coverage uses the 2025 HHS poverty guidelines: $15,650 for a household of 1 in the 48 contiguous states, plus $5,500 for each additional person (so $32,150 for a family of 4). Alaska ($19,550 base) and Hawaii ($17,990 base) use higher figures.
What counts as household income (MAGI)?
For ACA purposes, MAGI is your adjusted gross income plus tax-exempt interest, nontaxable Social Security benefits, and excluded foreign earned income. If a bonus or extra shifts could push you near the cliff, this estimate matters more than ever.
What if my actual 2026 income is different from my estimate?
The IRS reconciles your advance credit on Form 8962. If your income comes in higher, you may owe back part of the credit (with repayment caps); if lower, you get the difference as a tax refund. Estimate carefully — especially near the cliff.
Can I get a subsidy if I have an offer of employer coverage?
Generally no. If you have access to affordable employer coverage (costing no more than 9.96% of household income for self-only coverage in 2026) that meets minimum value, you're ineligible for marketplace subsidies. This calculator assumes no affordable employer offer.
Is this an official estimate?
No — it's a planning estimate using the IRS's published 2026 figures. The official number comes from HealthCare.gov or your state marketplace when you apply, and the final amount is set when you reconcile on your tax return.

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