An independent ACA calculator, built to be correct for 2026.

Who runs this

acacalc.com is published by Red Goggles LLC, an independent operator of free web calculators and reference tools. We are not a broker, an insurer, a government agency, or affiliated with the IRS, CMS, HHS, or HealthCare.gov. We don’t sell insurance, we don’t collect leads, and we don’t take your information — the calculator runs on your device and nothing you type is sent to us.

Why this site exists

The temporary “enhanced” premium tax credits that removed the income cap from 2021 through 2025 expired on January 1, 2026. For the 2026 plan year the credit reverts to its pre-2021 structure — a sliding subsidy up to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and then a hard cliff, where one dollar of extra income can drop the credit to $0. Most “ACA subsidy calculators” online still reflect the expired enhanced rules. Being correct for 2026 — the restored cliff — is the entire reason this tool exists.

How it’s calculated

The estimate uses three published inputs, applied in the open:

• Federal Poverty Guidelines (2025 HHS/ASPE) — the 2025 guidelines govern 2026 coverage. The tool branches on state, because Alaska and Hawaii use separate, higher tables.
• Applicable-percentage table (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-25) — the sliding share of income a household is expected to contribute toward the benchmark plan, interpolated linearly within each band and stopping at 400%.
• Benchmark premium — the second-lowest-cost silver plan. Because live premiums vary by rating area, the tool uses a rough age-band estimate by default and lets you enter your own benchmark from HealthCare.gov for a sharper number.

The full method is spelled out on the calculator page under How it works and The applicable-percentage table, and explained further in our guides.

How we stay neutral and current

The expiration of the enhanced credits is a politically charged topic. We model current enacted federal law and state the history factually — the enhancements existed 2021–2025, expired, and a bill to restore them passed the House in January 2026 but has not become law. We don’t assign blame, predict outcomes, or use outrage framing. Every page carries a dated “reflects current federal law as of…” note, and we link to primary sources — the IRS, HHS/ASPE, CMS, HealthCare.gov, and non-partisan analysts such as CRS and KFF — so you can verify the figures yourself. Poverty guidelines and the applicable-percentage table update annually; we replace estimates with official figures as they’re published.

How the site is funded

acacalc.com is free and supported by display advertising. Advertising is kept calm and never mixes with your inputs — see our privacy page for exactly what is and isn’t collected.

Questions or corrections? We take accuracy seriously on a topic this consequential — reach us on the contact page.