2027 Marketplace Income & Savings Cheat Sheet

Allen Insurance Agency · John T. Allen Sr., CLU Updated November 8, 2026 · 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C.

Which starting-income column applies to you?

• States without full Medicaid expansion: Use the 100% starting-income column. This generally applies to Mississippi, Texas, Florida, and Georgia. Georgia has a separate limited Medicaid program with additional requirements.
• Medicaid expansion states: Use the above-138% planning column. This generally applies to Louisiana and other expansion states for adults ages 19–64 who otherwise qualify for expansion Medicaid.

These are general annual planning figures for Marketplace financial assistance. You can buy Marketplace coverage without a tax credit if eligible to enroll. Medicaid eligibility, other coverage, and state-specific programs can change which assistance you qualify for.

2027 annual household income table

Use your expected 2027 household modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Figures are based on the 2026 federal poverty guidelines used for 2027 Marketplace coverage. Alaska and Hawaii have different amounts.

The expansion-state figures are the first whole-dollar annual amounts above 138% FPL, including $22,025 for one person. They are planning references, not guaranteed eligibility cutoffs: Medicaid generally uses current monthly income and state rounding rules. We check those limits along with annual income. Children, pregnant people, people with disabilities, and other groups have different rules.

Households above eight: Add $5,680 per person to the 100% figure, then calculate the relevant percentages.

Recheck Medicaid limits early in 2027

States update Medicaid limits after new federal poverty guidelines are issued. Recheck in February/March and when your state announces its effective date. If the limit rises, people near the cutoff who can adjust their earnings may need higher actual countable income to remain above the Medicaid range. Keep income estimates realistic and update the application when circumstances change. The 2027 Medicaid limits may differ from the initial planning figures above; the 2027 Marketplace tax-credit and Silver-savings table remains based on the 2026 guidelines.

Two different kinds of savings

Premium tax credits lower the monthly premium. Income generally must be within the applicable range through 400% FPL, and other eligibility rules apply. At exactly 400%, a credit is still possible; above 400%, federal premium tax credits generally are unavailable under current law. A household within the income range can still have a $0 calculated credit because the amount depends on age, location, eligible family members, and the benchmark Silver premium.

Cost-sharing reductions (CSR) lower deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and the out-of-pocket maximum. Choose a Silver Marketplace plan to receive standard income-based CSR.

Actuarial value describes a plan's average share of covered costs across a standard population, not the percentage paid on each person's bills. Actual benefits depend on the plan. Special rules apply to eligible American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Examples for a family of four: $60,000 falls in the 87% Silver savings tier; $80,000 falls in the 73% tier; $100,000 is above the standard CSR range but may still qualify for premium tax credits. All examples assume other eligibility requirements are met and are not premium quotes.

What income should you give us?

Use your best estimate for the coverage year, not simply last year's tax return.

Household MAGI generally equals: your adjusted gross income, plus tax-exempt interest, non-taxable Social Security, and excluded foreign earned income. Include your spouse's income and the MAGI of tax dependents who are required to file a federal income tax return. Do not count a dependent's income solely because they file voluntarily to obtain a refund.

Your tax household generally includes you, your spouse, and your claimed tax dependents—even if some do not need coverage. Married applicants generally must file jointly to receive premium tax credits, with limited exceptions.

If you are self-employed

Start with expected net business profit after allowable business expenses, then include other household income and applicable adjustments. Business revenue, bank deposits, and owner withdrawals are not interchangeable with taxable profit. For corporations or partnerships, include applicable wages and pass-through income; do not double-count them.

Eligible deductions—such as certain retirement contributions, HSA contributions, the deductible portion of self-employment tax, and qualifying self-employed health insurance premiums—may reduce AGI. The standard deduction and qualified business income deduction do not reduce Marketplace MAGI. The self-employed health insurance deduction and premium tax credit interact; coordinate the estimate with your tax preparer and avoid deducting the same expense twice.

Example: $200,000 in business receipts minus $120,000 in allowable expenses equals $80,000 in net business profit. That is a starting point, not necessarily final household MAGI: other household income, deductions, and MAGI additions still need to be considered.

Moving from group insurance?

We can compare Marketplace coverage with your current group plan. Self-employment by itself does not establish tax-credit eligibility. An offer of affordable employer coverage that meets minimum value can block premium tax credits, and affordability is evaluated differently for employees and family members. Actual enrollment in employer coverage generally prevents a credit for those same months. Let us review the offer and ownership arrangement before changing coverage, and confirm the new plan's effective date before ending an existing policy.

Keep your estimate current

Report income, household, and coverage changes promptly. Advance premium tax credits are reconciled on your federal tax return using Form 8962. Beginning with tax year 2026, repayment caps were removed: you must repay the full amount of any excess advance credit, even if your final income remains below 400% FPL. If your income is uncertain, you can choose to use less of the credit in advance.

Let us compare your options

Have your expected 2027 household MAGI, tax household size, ZIP code, family members' ages, current coverage information, doctors, prescriptions, and preferred pharmacy ready.

Call or text 985-892-1862 · 800-335-0639 J@JohnTAllen.com · www.JohnTAllen.com

Official references

• HealthCare.gov: Medicaid expansion and state differences
• 2026 HHS poverty guidelines
• HealthCare.gov: Federal poverty level
• HealthCare.gov: Income to include
• HealthCare.gov: Self-employment income
• HealthCare.gov: Cost-sharing reductions
• IRS: Premium tax credit questions and answers
• IRS: Repayment caps eliminated
• IRS Publication 974: Premium Tax Credit

General guidance under current law as of the update date; eligibility is determined through the application process. This sheet is not a premium quote or individualized tax advice.