Flagship tool · Plan year 2026
ACA Coverage & Savings Planner
See what Marketplace assistance you may qualify for — and what coverage could actually cost in your area.
Educational estimates only. No phone number required. No lead selling.
Official eligibility and enrollment are determined through the Marketplace.
Step 1 of 4
Location
Where do you live?
ZIP sets your state (and county when we know it). Marketplace prices are local — state-only averages are not enough.
How premium tax credits work
Premium tax credits lower the monthly cost of Marketplace plans based on household income versus the federal poverty level and the cost of a local benchmark Silver plan (SLCSP). This tool reconstructs that logic educationally — it does not pull your official SLCSP from CMS.
What MAGI means (plain English)
Modified adjusted gross income is a tax concept used by the Marketplace. For most people it is close to “what I earn in a year” with some adjustments. If you are self-employed or have irregular income, build in a buffer — credits are reconciled on your tax return.
Why ZIP and ages matter
Marketplace premiums vary by geography and age. A household of two 55-year-olds faces a different benchmark than two 30-year-olds in the same ZIP. State-only averages hide those differences.
Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSR)
If your income falls roughly between 100% and 250% FPL, you may get lower deductibles and out-of-pocket limits — but only if you enroll in a Silver plan. That is why the cheapest Bronze premium is not always the cheapest total cost.
Data provenance
- HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines (48 contiguous states + DC), 2025
- Educational model for plan year 2026 uses the statutory premium tax credit applicable-percentage schedule with no subsidy above 400% FPL (the “subsidy cliff”). Enhanced Inflation Reduction Act subsidies without a cliff applied through 2025. Confirm current law and official awards on the Marketplace.
- State-adjusted marketplace average premium baselines (educational reconstruction from public KFF/CMS average patterns — not live plan quotes or SLCSP filings)
- Last reviewed 2026-07
FAQ
- What if my income changes mid-year?
- Report changes to the Marketplace. Premium tax credits are reconciled on your tax return — you may owe back excess credits or receive additional credit. Use a conservative income estimate if self-employed income varies.
- What counts toward household income (MAGI)?
- Marketplace assistance generally uses modified adjusted gross income: most taxable income plus certain adjustments. This tool uses a rough household income proxy — not a tax calculation. Official MAGI is determined through the Marketplace application and IRS rules.
- What if I’m near the subsidy cliff?
- Under this educational 2026 model, premium tax credits generally end above 400% of the federal poverty level. Near the cliff, small MAGI changes can eliminate assistance. That is not tax advice — verify with a tax professional and the Marketplace.
- Do subsidies apply year-round?
- Credits apply for months you are enrolled in a Marketplace plan and eligible. Open enrollment and special enrollment periods control when you can enroll. Credits are not a year-round guarantee if you leave coverage or lose eligibility.
- What is CSR and why does Silver matter?
- Cost-Sharing Reductions lower deductibles and out-of-pocket costs on Silver plans for many households between about 100% and 250% FPL. CSR does not attach to Bronze or Gold — so the cheapest monthly Bronze can cost more overall if you use care. When live Marketplace data is available, Silver and Bronze paths use local premium landscape context for your ZIP.
- Do pre-existing conditions raise my premium?
- No. ACA individual-market plans cannot charge more for pre-existing conditions. This tool never uses health conditions to raise premium estimates.
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