How long will health insurance subsidies last?

Asked by: Dr. Vidal Daniel  |  Last update: January 27, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (51 votes)

The subsidies, which lower out-of-pocket costs on health insurance premiums for people who obtain insurance through the state or federally facilitated marketplaces, are currently set to expire at the end of 2025.

Will ACA subsidies expire in 2025?

First enacted in 2021 under the American Rescue Plan Act, the enhanced subsidies were renewed through the end of 2025 by the Inflation Reduction Act. Since their implementation, ACA Marketplace enrollment has grown each year and hit record highs, reaching over 21 million in 2024.

How long do subsidies last?

Subsidies remain for 2025

A sharp increase in their premiums would lead many to drop their coverage, leaving them uninsured, she said. The CBO estimates that 22.8 million total Americans will enroll in ACA marketplace health insurance plans in 2025.

Is the premium tax credit extended through 2025?

The PTC statute includes a temporary provision that expanded eligibility and enhanced subsidy amounts for tax years 2021 through 2025. Individuals must meet income (and other) criteria to be eligible for the PTC.

How can I avoid paying back my premium tax credit?

Report any changes in your income during the year to the Marketplace, so your credit can be adjusted and you can avoid any significant repayments at the end of the year.

Why millions of Americans could lose health insurance subsidies

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How long will the premium tax credit last?

As a result, 92 percent of Marketplace enrollees qualified for enhanced PTCs in 2024, and an additional 5 million people enrolled. Yet, the enhanced PTCs are set to expire at the end of 2025.

What is the income limit for marketplace insurance 2025?

Premium tax credits are available to people who buy Marketplace coverage and whose income is at least as high as the federal poverty level. For an individual, that means an income of at least $15,060 in 2025. For a family of four, that means an income of at least $31,200 in 2025.

What disqualifies you from the premium tax credit?

For tax years other than 2021 and 2022, if your household income on your tax return is more than 400 percent of the federal poverty line for your family size, you are not allowed a premium tax credit and will have to repay all of the advance credit payments made on behalf of you and your tax family members.

What are the ACA changes for 2026?

Strengthening the Marketplace's Impact on Consumers

For the 2026 benefit year, CMS is finalizing an FFM user fee rate of 2.5% of monthly premiums, and a State-based Marketplace on the Federal platform (SBM-FP) user fee rate to 2.0%of monthly premiums.

How do health insurance subsidies work?

Subsidy description

Individuals with household incomes up to 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL) are eligible for CSRs that eliminate deductibles and reduce other out-of-pocket costs. For 2025, all Covered California enrollees will qualify for at least the Enhanced Silver 73 health plan5.

Does a subsidy need to be paid back?

By receiving additional federal subsidies, many taxpayers no longer qualify for the state subsidy they received and therefore must pay this amount back with their tax return.

What would happen if subsidies were removed?

Without subsidies that distort the worldwide market price of commodities and discourage agriculture in the developing world, free traders say, the United States would produce fewer commodities. That would encourage other nations to grow more, which would open up new markets for U.S. agribusiness.

Will I have to repay ACA subsidy?

If your household income (MAGI) is at least 400% of the previous year's federal poverty level (FPL), you'll have to repay all of the excess APTC. But if your household income is below that threshold, there are caps on how much excess APTC you must repay.

What is the ACA affordability for 2025?

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is increasing the safe harbor affordability threshold to 9.02% for the 2025 tax year. As a result, employers will have more flexibility in making their employee premiums meet the affordable safe harbor for next year as required under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

What percentage of income is ACA subsidy?

Your eligibility for ACA (Obamacare) plan subsidies this year depends on your income. If the cost of the “benchmark plan” (the second-lowest-cost silver plan) is more than a certain percentage of your income, up to 8.5%, you qualify for subsidies.

Why do I have to pay back my health insurance tax credit?

If you use more advance payments of the tax credit than you qualify for based on your final yearly income, you must repay the difference when you file your federal income tax return. If you use less premium tax credit than you qualify for, you'll get the difference as a refundable credit when you file your taxes.

Can I refuse health insurance from my employer and get Obamacare?

Obamacare is available to everyone, whether or not their employers offer insurance. From a practical standpoint, though, there are financial consequences to doing this. Often, an employer subsidizes part or all of their employees' coverage.

What is the maximum income to qualify for premium tax credit?

The premium tax credit is available to individuals and families with incomes at or above the federal poverty level who purchase coverage in the ACA marketplace in their state. Through the end of the 2025 coverage year, there is no maximum income limit for the premium tax credit.

Who is eligible for the 2024 subsidy program?

For 2024, an enrollee's monthly income must be below $1,903 for an individual ($2,575 for a couple). Resources—which include stocks, bonds, and money in a checking, savings, or retirement account—must be below $17,220 ($34,360 for a couple).

Can you get Marketplace insurance if you are over 65?

Yes. You can get a Marketplace plan to cover you before your Medicare begins. You can then cancel the Marketplace plan once your Medicare coverage starts. Learn more if you have Marketplace coverage but will soon be eligible for Medicare.

Is there a cliff on ACA subsidies for 2025?

The ACA's “subsidy cliff” has been eliminated through 2025. ARP eliminated subsidy cliff in 2021 and 2022; IRA extended that through 2025.

What happens to ACA subsidies in 2026?

We project that in 2026: 1.56 million Californians who would otherwise have gotten subsidies would face higher premium costs because their subsidies either were eliminated or decreased. On average, these Californians would pay $967 more per year, even taking into account that some would switch to lower-cost coverage.

Do taxpayers no longer qualify for the premium tax credit?

For tax years 2021 through 2025, Congress temporarily expanded eligibility for the Premium Tax Credit by eliminating the requirement that a taxpayer's household income may not be more than 400 percent of the federal poverty line.