ACA Marketplace Subsidy Calculator
ACA Marketplace subsidies cap your benchmark plan cost at 0-8.5% of income. American Rescue Plan extensions through 2025 boosted subsidies for higher earners. This estimates your 2026 premium tax credit.
| Federal Poverty Level (your household) | — |
| % of FPL | — |
| Expected contribution % of income | — |
| Max annual contribution | — |
| Benchmark plan annual cost | — |
| Annual premium tax credit | — |
| Your monthly cost after credit | — |
ACA premium tax credits (APTC) cap your cost for the second-lowest-cost silver Marketplace plan at 0-8.5% of household income. The American Rescue Plan extended subsidies beyond the original 400% FPL cliff through 2025 (Inflation Reduction Act extended into 2025).
How APTC Calculation Works
Step 1: Calculate household % of Federal Poverty Level. Step 2: Apply ARPA-extended sliding scale (0% under 150% FPL, scaling to 8.5% above 400% FPL). Step 3: APTC = benchmark silver plan cost − your expected contribution. Apply to any Marketplace plan.
Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSR)
Below 250% FPL, you also get CSR — reduced deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket maxes on silver plans only. CSR alone is worth $1,000-$3,000/year in lower out-of-pocket. Must choose silver (not bronze) to capture CSR.
Medicaid Expansion Coverage Gap
40 states + DC expanded Medicaid (covers up to 138% FPL). 10 non-expansion states (FL, GA, TX, MS, AL, TN, KS, SC, WI, WY) have a coverage gap: too high for Medicaid, too low for ACA subsidies. No federal solution exists.
Reconciliation at Tax Time
APTC is paid in advance based on estimated income. At tax filing, reconcile actual income via Form 8962. Earn more than estimate = repay excess subsidy (capped for lower incomes). Earn less = additional credit refund.
Last updated May 2026. Sources: Healthcare.gov, IRS Premium Tax Credit.