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What are the exact 2026 MAGI income thresholds for premium tax credit eligibility by household size?
Executive summary
Exact 2026 MAGI thresholds for premium tax credit (PTC) eligibility are not listed verbatim in the provided sources; reporting indicates two points matter: [1] the 400%‑of‑FPL cap returns for 2026 if Congress does not extend the temporary subsidy enhancements, and [2] eligibility and subsidy calculations depend on household MAGI relative to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and the benchmark plan cost (second‑lowest‑cost Silver) [3][4]. Specific dollar thresholds by household size for 2026 PTC eligibility are not shown in the supplied documents.
1. What the rules say about MAGI and subsidy eligibility
The Marketplace uses a household’s modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) to decide premium tax credit eligibility; MAGI equals adjusted gross income plus certain items (untaxed foreign income, non‑taxable Social Security benefits and tax‑exempt interest) and is the figure used across Marketplace savings, Medicaid and CHIP [4][5]. HealthCare.gov emphasizes applicants estimate expected income for the coverage year — not last year — because PTCs are based on expected 2026 MAGI when enrolling for 2026 coverage [4].
2. Why 400% of FPL matters for 2026 and what that implies
Multiple outlets note that, unless Congress extends the COVID‑era/Inflation Reduction Act enhancements, a hard subsidy “cliff” returns for 2026: subsidies will only be available to households with income at or below 400% of the 2025 federal poverty level (FPL) [3]. HealthInsurance.org explains the difference between the enhanced sliding scale used in recent years and the pre‑2021 rule where 400% of FPL was the upper bound for any PTCs — meaning many families between ~100% and 400% FPL remain in the universe for subsidies, while those above will be ineligible if enhancements expire [3].
3. How the marketplace actually calculates the credit (not just the cutoffs)
Even when PTCs are available, the credit is not a flat cutoff; the Marketplace compares household MAGI to the FPL for household size and then calculates the expected contribution based on how costly the benchmark (second‑lowest‑cost Silver) plan would be relative to their MAGI — so the subsidy amount is individualized, not a single dollar threshold [3]. Covered California and state exchange guidance reiterate that household size (tax‑filing household) and MAGI determine percent of FPL and subsidy eligibility [6][7].
4. What the supplied sources do and do not provide
The provided search results include general guides, calculators, and state pages that show how to determine MAGI and link eligibility to FPL percentages, and they explicitly say PTC eligibility ties to MAGI and FPL [4][5][3]. However, none of the supplied pages publish a definitive table of exact 2026 dollar thresholds for each household size tied to the 2025 FPL (for example, “$X for 1 person, $Y for 2 people…”). Covered California and state pages mention charts and income tables exist, but the specific 2026 numeric rows are not present in these snippets supplied here [6][7][8].
5. Practical implications and what to watch for
If you need exact dollar numbers by household size for 2026 PTC eligibility, the necessary items to watch are: (a) official FPL figures (the 2025 FPL is referenced for 2026 subsidy cap discussions in the sources), (b) whether Congress extends subsidy enhancements (if it does, the 400% cap may not apply) and (c) your household MAGI calculation rules from HealthCare.gov [3][4]. HealthCare.gov and state marketplaces provide calculators and eligibility tables for each plan year; the healthinsurance.org subsidy calculator and state exchange tables are the practical tools to generate household‑size dollar thresholds once official FPL numbers and policy choices are final [3][8].
6. Conflicting perspectives and hidden stakes
Advocates argue keeping the enhanced subsidy rules prevents a “subsidy cliff” that would cut millions out of assistance; conversely, policy watchers note returning to a 400%‑of‑FPL cap simplifies program limits and reduces federal spending unless Congress acts — the sources frame the 400% cap as contingent on Congress’s decision [3]. State exchanges (e.g., Covered California) emphasize household‑level mechanics and staff assistance to estimate MAGI and household composition, which can affect eligibility outcomes and may reflect state interests in enrollment stability [6][7].
If you want the exact 2026 dollar thresholds by household size, available sources do not mention that table in these search results; to get precise numbers you should consult the official HealthCare.gov 2026 eligibility tables or your state’s Marketplace calculator (not present in the supplied snippets) once the FPL figures and any congressional action are finalized [4][3].