What income is used to determine the Affordable Care Act?

Asked by: Yadira Eichmann I  |  Last update: May 6, 2025
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Under the Affordable Care Act, eligibility for income-based Medicaid and subsidized health insurance through the Marketplaces is calculated using a household's Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI).

What income figure is used for Obamacare?

Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) The figure used to determine eligibility for premium tax credits and other savings for Marketplace health insurance plans and for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

What is the highest income to qualify for ACA?

In 2025, you'll typically be eligible for ACA subsidies if you earn between $15,060 and $60,240 as a single person. A family of four is eligible with a household income between $31,200 and $124,800.

What income is not counted?

Inheritances, gifts, cash rebates, alimony payments (for divorce decrees finalized after 2018), child support payments, most healthcare benefits, welfare payments, and money that is reimbursed from qualifying adoptions are deemed nontaxable by the IRS.

What determines how much you pay for Obamacare?

How insurance companies set health premiums. Five factors can affect a plan's monthly premium: location, age, tobacco use, plan category, and whether the plan covers dependents. Notice: FYI Your health, medical history, or gender can't affect your premium.

Obamacare Explained: Understanding the Affordable Care Act

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What is the percentage of income for the Affordable Care Act?

In 2025, a job-based health plan is considered "affordable" if your share of the monthly premium in the lowest-cost plan offered by the employer is less than 9.02% of your household income.

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 is excluded as income?

Income excluded from the IRS's calculation of your income tax includes life insurance death benefit proceeds, child support, welfare, and municipal bond income. The exclusion rule is generally, if your "income" cannot be used as or to acquire food or shelter, it's not taxable.

Does Social Security count as income?

Your benefits may be taxable if the total of (1) one-half of your benefits, plus (2) all of your other income, including tax-exempt interest, is greater than the base amount for your filing status.

What happens if I underestimate my income for Obamacare in 2024?

For the 2024 tax year, if you underestimated your income and received a larger tax credit than you were eligible for, you must repay the difference between the amount of premium tax credit you received and the amount you were eligible for.

Who is not eligible for Obamacare?

Must live in the United States. Must be a U.S. citizen or national (or be lawfully present). Learn about eligible immigration statuses. Cannot be incarcerated in prison or jail.

How is ACA eligibility calculated?

Calculating ACA Affordability
  1. Step 1: Determine the Employee's Household Income. The first step in calculating ACA affordability is determining the employee's household income. ...
  2. Step 2: Calculate the Affordability Threshold. ...
  3. Step 3: Determine the Cost of the Lowest-Cost Self-Only Coverage. ...
  4. Step 4: Adjust for Inflation.

How do I determine my adjusted gross income?

The AGI calculation is relatively straightforward. It is equal to the total income you report that's subject to income tax—such as earnings from your job, self-employment, dividends and interest from a bank account—minus specific deductions, or “adjustments” that you're eligible to take.

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.

How much is Obamacare a month for a single person?

Monthly premiums for Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans vary by state and can be reduced by premium tax credits. The average national monthly health insurance cost for one person on an Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan without premium tax credits in 2024 is $477.

How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus?

Specifically, a rumored $16,728 bonus that had people wondering if it was true or not in 2024? Sadly, there's no real “bonus” that retirees who receive Social Security can collect.

At what age is Social Security no longer taxed?

Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.

What is not counted as income?

Disability and worker's compensation payments are generally nontaxable. Supplemental Security Income payments are also tax-exempt. Disability compensation or pension payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs to U.S. military Veterans are tax-free as well.

Does selling a car count as income in the IRS?

You don't need to report car sales to the IRS or your state tax department. You only report it to the DMV so they can cancel the registration. Sale of a car is not taxable.

What is exempt from income?

Examples of tax exempt income include employer sponsored health insurance and Social Security benefits. Income tax does not include some forms of income like inheritances and gifts because they have their own tax systems that apply. [Last updated in October of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

What is considered income for Obamacare?

Include: Wages, salaries, tips, etc. Taxable interest. Taxable amount of pension, annuity or IRA distributions and Social Security benefits.

Why don't I qualify for health care tax credit?

(updated Feb. 9, 2024) A7. In general, individuals and families may be eligible for the Premium Tax Credit if their household income for the year is at least 100 percent but no more than 400 percent of the federal poverty line for their family size.

What is the $400 tax credit?

"The tax credit will provide first-time homebuyers with relief on their monthly mortgage payment, of more than $400 per month, as rates continue to fall.