By Alexander James, Licensed Independent Insurance Agent · NPN 19291077
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An estimate for 2027 coverage using the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and D.C. (Alaska and Hawaii use higher guidelines) and IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26. The Marketplace or your state Medicaid agency makes the official decision. Starting in 2027, the premium tax credit is limited to U.S. citizens and three groups of lawfully present immigrants: green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and citizens of the Compact of Free Association nations living here. Not tax advice. Empathy Insurance Advisors is not a real estate, tax, or financial planning firm.
The 2027 income lines in dollars
Yearly household income, 2026 HHS poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and D.C. Each added person moves every line up.
| Range | 1 person | 4 people | What it generally means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 100% | Under $15,960 | Under $33,000 | Medicaid range in expansion states; the coverage gap in many states that have not expanded. |
| 100% to 138% | $15,960 to $22,024 | $33,000 to $45,540 | Medicaid range in expansion states. In states that have not expanded, the premium tax credit with the largest Silver extra savings. |
| Over 138% to 150% | $22,025 to $23,940 | $45,541 to $49,500 | Premium tax credit, with the largest Silver extra savings. |
| Over 150% to 200% | $23,941 to $31,920 | $49,501 to $66,000 | Premium tax credit, with the middle level of Silver extra savings. |
| Over 200% to 250% | $31,921 to $39,900 | $66,001 to $82,500 | Premium tax credit, with the smallest level of Silver extra savings. |
| Over 250% to 400% | $39,901 to $63,840 | $82,501 to $132,000 | Premium tax credit; no Silver extra savings. |
| Over 400% | Over $63,840 | Over $132,000 | No premium tax credit for 2027. You can still buy a Marketplace plan at full premium. |
How to use the income check
Pick your state, choose how many people are in your tax household, and enter your best estimate of household income for 2027. The check compares that income with the 2026 federal poverty guidelines, the ones that apply to 2027 coverage, and tells you which range you fall in.
Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or stored. Use the household you will claim on your 2027 tax return, and the income the Marketplace counts, which is modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), not just take-home pay. Our guide to the 400% line and how MAGI is estimated walks through what counts.
What each income range means for 2027
Below 100% of the poverty level, Medicaid rules in your state decide most of the picture. From 100% to 400%, the premium tax credit is available, and up to 250% Silver plans may also come with extra savings. Over 400%, there is no premium tax credit for 2027.
The ranges come from federal law. The premium tax credit covers household income from 100% to 400% of the poverty level, and cost-sharing reductions on Silver plans step down at 150%, 200% and 250%. In states that expanded Medicaid, most adults up to 138% are in the Medicaid range instead. The table below shows the lines in dollars for one person and for four.
Why the check does not show a dollar amount
The premium tax credit depends on the price of the second-lowest-cost Silver plan where you live, your age and your household. This check knows your income range, not those prices, so it shows where you land rather than guessing at a credit or a premium.
A licensed agent can quote the real plans in your county once you share your ZIP code and ages. Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov, and December 15, 2026 is the last day to choose a plan that starts January 1.
If you land over 400%
Over 400% you can still enroll in a Marketplace plan at its full premium. The work shifts to comparing metal levels and deductibles, making sure your MAGI estimate is right, and weighing every option with someone who can show you the real prices.
The enhanced credits that removed the 400% limit ended after 2025, and the IRS table for 2027 tops out at 400%. It is a line, not a slope: a household just over it receives no credit at all. That is why an honest, careful income estimate matters, and why a tax professional is the right person to ask about deductions such as retirement or health savings account contributions.
Where a licensed independent agent fits
Alexander James is a licensed independent insurance agent. He and the licensed agents on his staff can check your income estimate the way the Marketplace counts it, compare the plans offered in your county, and help you complete the application. There is no obligation to enroll.
See the real 2027 plans in your county
Answer a few questions and a licensed agent will follow up with the Marketplace plans offered where you live, priced for your household. No obligation to enroll.
Licensed Insurance Agent | NPN: 19291077 · Licensed in 25+ states · No obligation · Privacy Policy
FAQ
Income check questions
Sources
Each page was read on October 20, 2026.
- Federal Register — Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines (91 FR 1797, January 15, 2026)
- IRS — Rev. Proc. 2026-26 (2027 applicable percentage table), Internal Revenue Bulletin 2026-31
- 26 U.S.C. 36B — Refundable credit for coverage under a qualified health plan
- 42 U.S.C. 18071 — Reduced cost-sharing for individuals enrolling in qualified health plans
- HealthCare.gov — Premium tax credit (glossary)
- HealthCare.gov — Cost-sharing reductions (glossary)
- HealthCare.gov — How to estimate your income
- HealthCare.gov — Medicaid and CHIP coverage
- Public Law 119-21 (H.R. 1), sec. 71119 (Medicaid community engagement, Social Security Act 1902(xx)) and sec. 71301 (premium tax credit only for eligible aliens, from 2027)
- Federal Register — Treasury/IRS proposed rule, Premium Tax Credit (91 FR 65494, October 15, 2026), proposed 1.36B-2(c)(2)(ii)(B)
- Medicaid.gov — Community engagement requirements
- KFF — Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions
- HealthCare.gov — Dates and deadlines
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