The ACA subsidy cliff sits at 400% of the [Federal Poverty Level](/federal-poverty-level), or $63,840 for a single person in 2026. One dollar above that threshold means $0 in Premium Tax Credit and the full unsubsidized premium.
Quick Answer: The ACA subsidy cliff is the hard cutoff at 400% FPL where [Premium Tax Credit](/glossary/premium-tax-credit) eligibility drops to zero. In 2026, that equals $63,840 for a household of one and $132,000 for a household of four. The cliff was suspended 2021 through 2025 by enhanced subsidies under the American Rescue Plan Act and Inflation Reduction Act, but expired January 1, 2026. Check [ACA income limits](/aca-income-limits) to find the exact cutoff for your household size.
| Household Size | 400% FPL Cliff (2026) | Result Above Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $63,840 | $0 PTC, full premium |
| 2 persons | $86,560 | $0 PTC, full premium |
| 4 persons | $132,000 | $0 PTC, full premium |
| 8 persons | $222,880 | $0 PTC, full premium |
Source: [HHS 2026 poverty guidelines](https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines). Cutoff = 400% FPL, 48 contiguous states and DC.
Source: https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines
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In 2026, the cliff sits at 400% FPL: $63,840 for a household of one, $86,560 for two, and $132,000 for four. One dollar above these thresholds means $0 Premium Tax Credit for the full plan year. The cutoff is based on MAGI reported on your federal tax return and reconciled on [IRS Form 8962](https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8962).
Enhanced subsidies passed under the American Rescue Plan Act (2021) and extended by the Inflation Reduction Act eliminated the 400% FPL cap through December 31, 2025. Congress did not renew them before the 2026 plan year, so the original statutory cutoff restored on January 1, 2026. KFF enrollment data show plan sign-ups for the 400–500% FPL group fell by over 321,000 (a 44% drop), with those above 400% FPL overall accounting for nearly half of the total 2025-to-2026 enrollment decline.
No. The 400% FPL cliff applies only to Marketplace Premium Tax Credits. [Medicaid income limits](/medicaid-income-limits) in expansion states cap at 138% FPL, and [Medicare eligibility](/medicare-eligibility) is age- and disability-based with no income ceiling. If your income is below 138% FPL you likely qualify for Medicaid rather than a Marketplace plan.
You may qualify for free health insurance.
Our 2-minute screener checks Medicaid, ACA, Medicare, CHIP, and more. Most uninsured Americans qualify for $0/month coverage they didn't know about.