Most Health Insurance Marketplace enrollees qualify for premium tax credits that lower their monthly cost — but it isn't guaranteed for everyone. Eligibility depends on your household income, household size, age, location, and the price of plans where you live.
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Premium tax credits reduce what you pay each month for a Health Insurance Marketplace plan. The credit can be applied in advance, directly to your premium, so your monthly bill is lower. Cost-sharing reductions can lower your deductible, copays and out-of-pocket maximum — but only if you qualify and you choose a Silver plan.
These are not cash payments, prepaid cards, or spending cards. No money is sent to you.
Final eligibility and any savings amounts are determined solely by the official Health Insurance Marketplace — at HealthCare.gov or your state's marketplace. Anything shown on this page is general education and illustrative only.
Learn more at HealthCare.gov →The Affordable Care Act created two distinct forms of assistance for Marketplace coverage — plus a path to free or low-cost coverage for some households. Here's how each one works.
Lowers your monthly premium for a Marketplace plan. The amount is based on your household income, household size, age, location, and the cost of plans available in your area. You can choose to have it applied in advance each month instead of waiting for tax time.
Eligibility variesLowers your deductible, copays and out-of-pocket maximum — what you pay when you actually use care. This help is available only with Silver plans, and only for households that qualify based on income and size.
Eligibility variesAt lower income levels — and depending on the state you live in — you or your children may qualify for free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program instead of a Marketplace plan. You can apply year-round.
Eligibility variesMost Marketplace enrollees qualify for some form of financial help, but assistance is not guaranteed for everyone. Only the Marketplace can confirm what you qualify for.
Metal tiers describe how you and your plan split the cost of care. A lower premium usually means higher costs when you need care — and the other way around.
Lowest monthly premium, highest out-of-pocket costs.
Moderate premium, moderate costs — and the only tier where cost-sharing reductions apply.
Higher monthly premium, lower costs when you get care.
Highest monthly premium, lowest costs when you get care.
All Marketplace plans cover the same 10 essential health benefits. Tiers differ in how you and the plan split costs — not in quality of care. Plan availability and pricing vary by state, county and age.
Answer three quick questions for a general, illustrative sense of which kind of help might apply to a household like yours. This tool does not determine eligibility and will never show you a dollar amount.
This is an illustrative estimate only, not a determination of eligibility. Official eligibility and any savings amounts are determined solely by the Health Insurance Marketplace at HealthCare.gov or your state marketplace.
Compare Plans With a Licensed AgentIn most states, Open Enrollment for Marketplace coverage runs November 1 through January 15. When you enroll determines when your coverage begins.
Time left to enroll for January 1 coverage
Counting down to December 15. Enrollment continues through January 15 in most states, with coverage starting February 1.
Missed Open Enrollment? A qualifying life event — like losing coverage, moving, marriage, or having a baby — may open a 60-day Special Enrollment Period.
See My OptionsCertain events may open a Special Enrollment Period, allowing you to apply for Marketplace coverage outside of Open Enrollment.
Job loss, aging off a parent's plan, or losing other qualifying coverage.
A permanent move that changes the plans available to you.
Marriage may let you add a spouse or choose a new plan together.
Birth, adoption, or placement in foster care adds a household member.
In some cases, an income change can affect eligibility or open a window.
Newly eligible immigration status may open enrollment for you.
Most Special Enrollment Periods last 60 days from the qualifying event. Documentation may be required. The Marketplace confirms whether an event qualifies.
Marketplace plans can be confusing — four metal tiers, two kinds of financial help, and rules that change by state and county. We connect you with licensed agents who can walk through your options in plain language, at no cost to you.
You are never required to use an agent. You can always compare and enroll on your own, for free, through the official Marketplace.
Enroll directly at HealthCare.gov →There is no cost or obligation to explore your options with us.
Speak with agents licensed to sell health coverage in your state.
Compare across the carriers available in your area, not just one.
Understand how premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions work.
Guidance through the application steps and required information.
No. A premium tax credit is a tax credit that lowers your monthly premium — it is applied directly to the cost of your Marketplace plan, or claimed when you file your taxes. There is no cash card, prepaid card, or spending card associated with the ACA, and no money is sent to you. Any website or caller promising you a card or cash from the ACA should be treated with caution.
Premium tax credits are based on your expected household income for the coverage year, your household size, the ages of those covered, where you live, and the price of plans available in your area — specifically the cost of a benchmark Silver plan locally. Because local plan prices matter, two households with the same income can receive different amounts. The Marketplace calculates the final figure.
Report income and household changes to the Marketplace as soon as you can. Advance premium tax credits are reconciled on your federal tax return: if you received more credit than your final income supported, you may owe some back; if you received less, you may get the difference as a credit. Keeping your information current helps avoid surprises at tax time.
It depends. If your employer's coverage is considered both affordable and adequate under Marketplace rules, you generally would not qualify for a premium tax credit. If the job-based offer is not considered affordable — including when the cost of covering your family is too high relative to income — you may still qualify. You can buy a Marketplace plan either way; the Marketplace determines whether financial help applies.
No. You can compare plans and enroll directly and at no cost at HealthCare.gov or through your state's Marketplace. Free local help is also available from Navigators and certified assisters. Working with a licensed agent is an optional, no-cost assistance channel — it does not change your plan price.
No. SaveOnHealth is a private website operated by an independent marketing organization. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by HealthCare.gov, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or any federal or state government agency. The official source for Marketplace enrollment is HealthCare.gov.
Take a few minutes to see which Marketplace plans are available where you live and whether premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions may apply to your household. Eligibility and amounts are determined by the official Marketplace.
Free · No obligation · Not a government website
The official federal Marketplace for comparing and enrolling in plans.
Open →Some states run their own marketplace with their own deadlines.
Open →The 10 benefit categories every Marketplace plan must cover.
Open →Optional, no-cost help comparing the plans available to you.
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