What Is the Maximum Income to Qualify for ACA Health Insurance in 2027?

Direct answer: the maximum income for ACA subsidies in 2027

Yes, up to 400% of the federal poverty level. For 2027 coverage, sold from November 1, 2026, the maximum income for ACA premium tax credits is $63,840 for 1 person, $86,560 for a couple, and $132,000 for a family of 4 in the 48 states and DC. Above that line the 2027 credit is $0. For 2026 coverage the limits are $62,600, $84,600, and $128,600.

Maximum income for ACA subsidies for 1, 2, and 4 people (2027 coverage)

The maximum income for ACA subsidies is 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL), and the dollar amount depends on household size. For 2027 coverage a single adult can have up to $63,840 a year ($5,320 a month), a couple up to $86,560 a year ($7,213 a month), and a family of 4 up to $132,000 a year ($11,000 a month). Each additional person adds $22,720 a year for 2027 coverage. The full table above also lists 2026 coverage, which is lower: $62,600, $84,600, and $128,600 for the same three households.

Household size means your tax household: you, your spouse, and anyone you claim as a dependent. A married couple counts as 2 people even if only one spouse needs coverage, and their incomes are added together. Two spouses earning $45,000 each have $90,000 of household income, which is $3,440 above the $86,560 line for 2027 coverage, so that couple gets no premium tax credit for 2027. If one spouse earns $80,000 and the other $0, the couple is under the line. The CoveredUSA 400% FPL page shows the same lines with the expected-contribution math.

Why ACA subsidy limits use two sets of numbers in 2026 and 2027

HealthCare.gov states that income from the previous year is used to calculate Marketplace savings for the next year, which is why a plan year has its own maximum income. Coverage during 2026 is measured against the 2025 poverty guidelines ($15,650 for 1 person, $32,150 for 4), so the 2026 maximum is $62,600 for 1 person and $128,600 for 4. Coverage for 2027 is measured against the 2026 guidelines ($15,960 for 1 person, $33,000 for 4), so the 2027 maximum is $63,840 and $132,000 (26 CFR 1.36B-1(h)). Anyone shopping since November 1, 2026 is buying 2027 coverage.

The enhanced credits that removed the 400% cap for 2021 through 2025 expired on December 31, 2025 and were not extended, so the cap applies to both 2026 and 2027 coverage. A household that reads an older article saying subsidies reach any income is reading outdated information. Alaska and Hawaii use higher poverty tables: for 2027 coverage the maximum for 1 person is $79,800 in Alaska and $73,440 in Hawaii, and for a couple it is $108,200 in Alaska and $99,560 in Hawaii.

What income counts toward the ACA subsidy maximum in 2027

Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) is the measure, and it is the expected total for the whole coverage year, not one month. MAGI starts with adjusted gross income and adds back tax-exempt interest, excluded foreign income, and all Social Security benefits, including the part that is not taxed (26 USC 36B(d)(2)(B)(iii)). Pre-tax 401(k) or traditional IRA contributions and health savings account contributions lower adjusted gross income, which can move a household under the 2027 line. Ask a tax preparer or check IRS.gov before relying on that.

The line is a cliff, not a slope. A single adult with $63,840 of MAGI can still receive a credit for 2027 coverage, and at $63,841 the credit is $0. Near the line the credit is small anyway, because the expected contribution for 2027 coverage tops out at 10.22% of income (Rev. Proc. 2026-26), about $6,524 a year for 1 person, $8,846 for a couple, and $13,490 for a family of 4 at exactly 400% FPL. The credit equals the benchmark silver premium minus that amount.

Alternatives if your income is above the ACA subsidy maximum

Households over the 2027 maximum ($63,840 for 1 person, $86,560 for a couple, $132,000 for 4) lose the premium tax credit for the year, and from tax year 2026 any advance credit paid beyond what you qualify for is repaid in full on Form 8962, with no repayment cap at any income (P.L. 119-21 sec. 71305; IRS Questions and Answers on the Premium Tax Credit). Four options remain:

• Lower your MAGI legitimately with pre-tax retirement or health savings account contributions, which can put a household back under the 2027 line.
• Check employer coverage: an offer is affordable for plan years beginning in 2027 when the employee's own premium is 10.22% or less of household income (Rev. Proc. 2026-26).
• Buy a full-price Marketplace plan: every ACA-compliant plan covers the essential health benefits and cannot charge more for a preexisting condition, with or without a credit.
• Look for state help: a few states fund their own premium assistance without the 400% cap. Check your state Marketplace website for programs open to your income.

Other limits besides income: the lower line, Medicare, and immigration status

Adults under 65 also need income of at least 100% FPL for 2027 coverage ($15,960 for 1 person, $21,640 for a couple, $33,000 for 4) to receive the credit. Below that line, adults in Medicaid expansion states apply for Medicaid, whose 2026 line is 138% FPL ($22,025 for 1 person), while adults in the 10 states that did not expand Medicaid (AL, FL, GA, KS, MS, SC, TN, TX, WI, WY) may fall into the coverage gap, except in Wisconsin, where BadgerCare Plus covers adults up to 100% FPL.

Medicare ends Marketplace credits. Once you have Original Medicare (Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B), you cannot receive premium tax credits, and Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medigap plans are not Marketplace plans. Starting with 2027 coverage the credit is also limited by immigration status to citizens, green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau (P.L. 119-21 sec. 71301). Refugees, asylees, TPS holders, parolees, and visa holders can still buy a plan at full price, and DACA recipients cannot buy through HealthCare.gov or a state Marketplace in any state.

How to check your number and enroll for 2027 coverage

Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and the HealthCare.gov dates page says to enroll or change plans by December 15, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1, 2027. That December 15 deadline has been in litigation, and state-based marketplaces set their own dates, so confirm them on the HealthCare.gov dates and deadlines page. For the monthly and 2026 walkthrough, see the Obamacare income limits 2027 chart and the longer ACA income limits 2026 guide.

• Step 1: Count your tax household and find your row in the table above.
• Step 2: Add up your expected 2027 MAGI for the year, including all Social Security benefits, and compare it with the 2027 coverage maximum.
• Step 3: Apply at HealthCare.gov or your state Marketplace, compare plans, and choose how much credit to take in advance.
• Step 4: Report income changes during 2027 and reconcile on Form 8962 with your 2027 tax return.

What is the maximum income to qualify for ACA health insurance in 2027?

For 2027 coverage, the maximum income for ACA premium tax credits is 400% of the federal poverty level: $63,840 a year for 1 person and $132,000 for a family of 4 in the 48 states and DC. Above that line the credit is $0, though you can still buy a plan at full price.

How much can a couple make and still get ACA in 2027?

A couple can have up to $86,560 a year ($7,213 a month) of combined household income and still receive a premium tax credit for 2027 coverage. For 2026 coverage the couple limit is $84,600. Both spouses' incomes are added together, including all Social Security benefits.

At what income do ACA subsidies end?

ACA subsidies end the moment household income passes 400% FPL for the coverage year: above $63,840 for 1 person, $86,560 for 2, and $132,000 for 4 for 2027 coverage. For 2026 coverage the lines are $62,600, $84,600, and $128,600. The drop is abrupt, with no gradual phase-out.

Is there still no income cap on Obamacare subsidies?

No. The enhanced credits that removed the 400% cap expired on December 31, 2025 and were not extended, so the cap applies to 2026 coverage and 2027 coverage. Articles that say subsidies reach any income describe the 2021 to 2025 rules.

Why are the 2026 and 2027 ACA income limits different?

Marketplace savings use the previous year's poverty guidelines (26 CFR 1.36B-1(h)). Coverage for 2026 uses the 2025 guidelines, so 1 person tops out at $62,600; coverage for 2027 uses the 2026 guidelines, so 1 person tops out at $63,840. People shopping since November 1, 2026 are buying 2027 coverage.

Does Social Security count toward the ACA income maximum?

Yes. For the premium tax credit, MAGI counts all Social Security benefits, including the part that is not taxed (26 USC 36B(d)(2)(B)(iii)). A person under 65 on disability benefits should add the full yearly benefit to other income before comparing with the 2027 coverage maximum.

What happens if I earn more than I estimated for 2027?

From tax year 2026 there is no cap on repaying excess advance premium tax credits. If your final 2027 income passes the maximum or is simply higher than reported, you repay the full difference on Form 8962. Report income changes to your Marketplace during the year to adjust the monthly credit.

Is the maximum income higher in Alaska and Hawaii?

Yes. Alaska and Hawaii use higher poverty guidelines. For 2027 coverage the 400% maximum for 1 person is $79,800 in Alaska and $73,440 in Hawaii, compared with $63,840 in the other 48 states and DC. For a couple it is $108,200 in Alaska and $99,560 in Hawaii.