Impact of Key Provisions of the House COVID-19 Relief Proposal on Marketplace Premiums
KFF February 18, 2021
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) made premium tax credits available to people purchasing health coverage on the Marketplaces, but generally only when their incomes fall between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. These subsidies work by capping what an enrollee must spend on a silver benchmark plan premium at no more than a certain percentage of the enrollee’s household income. The premium tax credit amount equals the difference between the actual benchmark plan premium for that individual and the required contribution. The tax credit can be applied to any metal level plan.
However, a sharp cliff exists at 400% of the poverty level. Under current law, a 60-year-old making $50,000 per year (392% of poverty) pays no more...