What is the federal poverty level for 2027 coverage?
HealthCare.gov tax credits for 2027 use the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines, published in the Federal Register on Jan. 15, 2026. The table shows the five lines that matter in the 48 states and DC, for each household size.
| Household size | 100% | 138% | 150% | 250% | 400% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $22,025 | $23,940 | $39,900 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $29,863 | $32,460 | $54,100 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $37,702 | $40,980 | $68,300 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $45,540 | $49,500 | $82,500 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $53,378 | $58,020 | $96,700 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $61,217 | $66,540 | $110,900 | $177,440 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $69,055 | $75,060 | $125,100 | $200,160 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $76,894 | $83,580 | $139,300 | $222,880 |
For each person over eight, the 2026 guidelines add $5,680. The 138% figures are rounded to the nearest dollar.
What does each line decide in 2027?
Each line is a cutoff in the 2027 rules from the IRS, CMS and the Medicaid statute:
| Line | What it decides |
|---|---|
| 100% | The tax credit starts here. Below it, most adults in Alabama, Florida, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming get neither Medicaid nor a credit: the coverage gap. |
| 138% | Medicaid for adults ends here in the states that expanded it. In states that didn’t, the tax credit covers this range instead. |
| 150% | Up to this line, silver plans have the most extra savings (94% plans), and the benchmark plan costs at most 4.30% of income. |
| 250% | Silver plans with extra savings (cost-sharing reductions) end here. |
| 400% | The tax credit ends here. One dollar over means no credit at all in 2027: the subsidy cliff. |
The monthly sign-up window for incomes under 150% of the poverty line is gone for 2027. Those households enroll during open enrollment like everyone else.
How much of your income goes to the benchmark plan in 2027?
The IRS sets the share of household income you’re expected to pay for the benchmark silver plan. That’s the second-cheapest silver plan where you live. The tax credit covers the rest of that plan’s price. Rev. Proc. 2026-26 sets these shares for 2027:
| Household income | Share of income for the benchmark plan |
|---|---|
| Under 133% of the poverty line | 2.15% |
| 133% to 150% | 3.23% to 4.30% |
| 150% to 200% | 4.30% to 6.78% |
| 200% to 250% | 6.78% to 8.66% |
| 250% to 300% | 8.66% to 10.22% |
| 300% to 400% | 10.22% |
| Over 400% | No credit |
Within a band, the share rises in a straight line. The same 10.22% is the 2027 test for whether a job’s health plan counts as affordable.
What are the 2027 poverty lines in Alaska and Hawaii?
Alaska and Hawaii have their own, higher HHS guidelines for 2026. They set the tax credit limits there for 2027:
| Household size | Alaska 100% | Alaska 400% | Hawaii 100% | Hawaii 400% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $19,950 | $79,800 | $18,360 | $73,440 |
| 2 | $27,050 | $108,200 | $24,890 | $99,560 |
| 3 | $34,150 | $136,600 | $31,420 | $125,680 |
| 4 | $41,250 | $165,000 | $37,950 | $151,800 |
| 5 | $48,350 | $193,400 | $44,480 | $177,920 |
| 6 | $55,450 | $221,800 | $51,010 | $204,040 |
| 7 | $62,550 | $250,200 | $57,540 | $230,160 |
| 8 | $69,650 | $278,600 | $64,070 | $256,280 |
For each person over eight, the 2026 guidelines add $7,100 in Alaska and $6,530 in Hawaii.
How do you find your own percentage of the poverty line?
- Estimate your household’s 2027 income: adjusted gross income, plus untaxed Social Security, tax-exempt interest and excluded foreign income. See what counts as income for the ACA for what to include and leave out.
- Count your tax household: you, a spouse you file jointly with, and your dependents. Family members who aren’t eligible immigrants count differently in 2027: see ACA subsidies for immigrants.
- Divide the income by the 100% figure for that household size, then multiply by 100.
A family of three expecting $45,000 in 2027 is at 164.7% of the poverty line ($45,000 divided by the 2026 guideline of $27,320). That family gets a tax credit and qualifies for silver plans with extra savings.
The tax return settles the credit on actual income. A low estimate means paying back the difference, with no cap from 2026 on: see premium tax credit repayment in 2027.
Coverage Decider’s calculator does the arithmetic, then checks Medicaid, your job’s plan and the tax credit for your household. How Coverage Decider calculates lists every 2027 figure it uses, with sources.