How this calculator works
The ACA tax credit, often called the subsidy, is measured against a benchmark: the second-lowest-cost silver plan where you live. The law sets how much of your income you are expected to pay toward that plan, and the credit covers the rest of its price.
This calculator works out that expected share from your household size and income, using the 2027 percentages the IRS published in Rev. Proc. 2026-26. It shows your part in dollars a month. It does not show the credit in dollars yet, because that needs each county’s 2027 benchmark premium.
2027 income limits at a glance
Estimate for 2027 coverage. Income is yearly household income, measured against the 2026 poverty guidelines, which are the ones used for 2027 tax credits. The share is what you are expected to pay toward the benchmark plan, as a percent of income.
| Income vs the poverty line | 1 person | 2 people | 4 people | Your expected share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1× (100%) | $15,960 | $21,640 | $33,000 | 2.15% |
| 1.5× (150%) | $23,940 | $32,460 | $49,500 | 4.3% |
| 2× (200%) | $31,920 | $43,280 | $66,000 | 6.78% |
| 2.5× (250%) | $39,900 | $54,100 | $82,500 | 8.66% |
| 3× (300%) | $47,880 | $64,920 | $99,000 | 10.22% |
| 4× (400%) | $63,840 | $86,560 | $132,000 | 10.22%; no credit above |
Swipe sideways to see every column.
Heads up: in states that expanded Medicaid, including Illinois, adults under about 1.38× the poverty line usually qualify for Medicaid instead of a tax credit.
Worked example
This is an example, not your result. A single person earning $40,000 is about 2.5 times the poverty line of $15,960. At that income the 2027 table sets the expected share at about 8.7%, or about $290 a month toward the benchmark silver plan. If that plan cost $600 a month in their county, the credit would cover the other $310.
What this does not include
- The tax credit in dollars. That needs your county’s 2027 benchmark premium, and we will add it once the premiums are published.
- Your final credit. It is settled when you file your 2027 taxes, against your actual income. If your income comes in higher than you estimated, you pay back the difference, with no cap.
- Medicaid and All Kids. Below about 1.38× the poverty line, adults in Illinois usually qualify for Medicaid, and children qualify at higher incomes through All Kids.
- Plan prices, deductibles and networks. A licensed advisor can show you the real plans in your county and check your doctors.
Sources, checked October 24, 2026: IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26, HHS 2026 poverty guidelines, HealthCare.gov, lower costs. Obamacare Hotline and/or Medicare Po Polsku are private companies not affiliated with any local, state, or federal government agency. This page is general information, not tax advice.