If you drive for Uber or DoorDash, freelance, or do any 1099 work, you don’t get health insurance from an employer, so most gig workers buy a plan on the ACA Marketplace (HealthCare.gov or a state exchange). The good news: a premium tax credit can cut what you pay every month. The catch for 2027: the extra pandemic-era subsidies expired, the 400% “subsidy cliff” is back, and there’s no longer any cap on paying back an overestimated subsidy. This ACA subsidy calculator uses the official 2027 IRS percentages to estimate your monthly subsidy from your gig income, warns you if you’re close to the cliff, and shows how a retirement contribution can get you back under it. Open enrollment runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027.
ACA Health Insurance Subsidy Calculator (2027)
See how much the government will pay toward your Marketplace health plan in 2027, based on your gig income. It also warns you if you’re near the 400% “subsidy cliff” and shows how to get back under it.
1. Your household
2. Your expected 2027 income
How it adds up
| Net self-employment profit | $0 |
| − Half of self-employment tax | $0 |
| + Other household income | $0 |
| − Pre-tax retirement contributions | $0 |
| Estimated income the Marketplace uses (MAGI) | $0 |
| Poverty line for your household (2026 guidelines) | $0 |
| Your required share of income | 0% |
| Yearly benchmark premium | $0 |
| − Your expected yearly contribution | $0 |
| Yearly premium tax credit | $0 |
- The extra pandemic-era subsidies are gone. They expired December 31, 2025. 2027 plans use the original ACA rules, so most people pay more than they did in 2025.
- The 400% cliff is back. If your income is even $1 over 400% of the poverty line, your subsidy is $0.
- No more repayment cap. Your subsidy is paid in advance based on your estimate. If you earn more than you guessed, you pay back the whole difference when you file. Update your income on the Marketplace when it changes.
- Low income? Under 138% of the poverty line you may qualify for Medicaid instead, if your state expanded it. Under 100% you generally can’t get a Marketplace subsidy.
- Open enrollment on HealthCare.gov runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15 for coverage starting January 1. Some states run their own sites with different dates.
Put your numbers to work
Estimate for planning only, not tax, legal, insurance, or financial advice. Uses the 2027 applicable percentage table from IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26 (2.15% to 10.22% of income) and the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines, under current law with no extension of the enhanced credits. Doesn’t include the self-employed health insurance deduction, which also lowers MAGI and needs a special calculation. Your actual subsidy depends on your final income, household, location and age; confirm on HealthCare.gov or your state Marketplace. See all calculators.
ACA subsidies for gig workers: common questions
How much ACA subsidy will I get in 2027?
It depends on your household size and your expected 2027 income (MAGI). Under 2027 rules you are expected to pay between 2.15% and 10.22% of your income toward the benchmark Silver plan, and the premium tax credit covers the rest of that plan’s price. The calculator above works it out from your own numbers.
Is the ACA subsidy cliff back for 2027?
Yes. The enhanced subsidies that removed the cliff expired on December 31, 2025, and Congress has not extended them. For 2027 coverage, if your household income is above 400% of the federal poverty line (about $63,840 for one person or $132,000 for a family of four in the lower 48 states), you get no premium tax credit at all.
How do gig workers estimate income for the Marketplace?
Use your expected net self-employment profit (income minus business expenses), subtract half of your self-employment tax and any pre-tax retirement contributions, and add other household income. Because gig income changes, update the Marketplace during the year. With no repayment cap, underestimating can mean paying back the entire excess subsidy at tax time. For a worked example, see our guide on how to estimate income for the ACA Marketplace.