ACA subsidy calculator
Estimate your premium tax credit and what a benchmark Silver plan might cost you each month.
Free tool · no email required ·
2026 figures
Family Glitch Calculator for Arizona 2026
Since 2023 the affordability of job-based coverage is judged twice: once on the lowest-cost plan covering only the employee, and again on the lowest-cost plan covering the whole family. When the answers differ, the family can buy Marketplace coverage with a tax credit while the employee stays on the work plan.
- Built on published 2026 figures
- Everything runs in your browser
- Nothing you type is sent anywhere
- Free, with no email or sign-up
Estimates only. Figures on this page use published plan-year values and the details you enter. They are not a quote, an offer of coverage, or a determination of eligibility. Your final premium and any tax credit are confirmed at enrollment with the carrier or HealthCare.gov. Everything is calculated in your browser; nothing you type is sent to us or anyone else.
What this assumes
- Applies the 2026 required contribution percentage of 9.96% from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-25.
- Uses the lowest-cost employer plan that meets minimum value, not necessarily the one you chose.
- Figures are your share of the premium, not what the employer pays.
- In 2026, a household above 400% of the poverty level gets no premium tax credit even if the family plan is unaffordable.
- Affordable employer coverage blocks a tax credit. It does not stop you buying a Marketplace plan at full price.
- An estimate from published figures and the numbers you enter, not a quote or an eligibility decision.
Where the figures come from
- IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-25: 2026 applicable percentage table and required contribution percentage Internal Revenue Service, 2026
- HHS poverty guidelines 2025 (coverage year 2026) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2025
Talk it through with Viola
An estimate is a starting point. Viola Lucero, CLTC, and the team at Rise Up Benefits Group in Chandler can look up the real figures for your situation, check your doctors and prescriptions, and explain what the numbers mean for you. We speak insurance, so you don't have to.
Or see real Marketplace plans for your ZIP code:
Rise Up Benefits Group is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operating on behalf of HealthCare.gov, the Health Insurance Marketplace, or any federal or state government agency. Plan availability, premiums and advance premium tax credits are set by the carriers and the Marketplace.
In clients' words
What working with Viola looks like
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with this individual and not only is she extremely knowledgeable about her field, but her passion and kind heart truly serves this community profoundly . If you have a child aging out at 26, if you have a parent who is starting 65, if you’re 1099 contract worker , if you need group benefits, or if you want to protect your family in case of a cancer Scare etc ., she’s the one you can TRUST. Thank you for all that you do Viola Lucero.
Verbatim client reviews from the agency's public profiles (5.0 stars from 49 Google reviews). Read all reviews.
Common questions
What is the family glitch fix?
Since 2023, the affordability of job-based coverage for family members is judged on the cost of the family plan, not the employee-only plan. If the family plan costs too much, the spouse and children may qualify for a Marketplace tax credit.
What counts as affordable employer coverage in 2026?
Coverage costing the employee no more than 9.96% of household income for 2026 plan years (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-25).
Can my spouse and kids get a Marketplace plan while I keep my work plan?
Yes, if the family offer is unaffordable and household income is between 100% and 400% of the poverty level in 2026. Each person is then on a different plan, with separate deductibles.
Does the family glitch fix help the employee too?
No. The employee is still judged on the cost of the lowest-priced plan covering only the employee. If that is affordable, the employee stays on the work plan with no tax credit. Only the spouse and children are tested against the family plan cost, which is why families can end up split between two plans.
How do I find the cost of my employer’s family plan?
Ask HR or check your benefits portal for your share of the premium for the lowest-cost family plan that meets minimum value, not the plan you picked. HealthCare.gov asks for that figure on the application, and it is the number this calculator needs. Leave out what your employer pays.
What if my employer does not offer family coverage at all?
Then your spouse and children have no job-based offer, so the affordability test does not block them. They may qualify for a Marketplace tax credit on their own if household income is between 100% and 400% of the poverty level in 2026. The application on HealthCare.gov asks about every offer in the household.
Does the affordability percentage change every year?
Yes. The IRS re-indexes it each year for the next plan year, and it has moved both up and down in recent years. It is 9.96% for 2026 plan years. This calculator uses that figure, and we update it when the IRS publishes the next one.
When can my family switch to a Marketplace plan?
Usually during Open Enrollment, which for 2027 coverage on HealthCare.gov starts November 1, 2026. Outside it, your family needs a qualifying event, such as losing other coverage. Run the numbers before your employer’s own open enrollment, so you know whether to enroll the whole family at work.
Is the family glitch result a final answer on eligibility?
No. It is an estimate from the figures you enter and the published IRS percentage. HealthCare.gov makes the decision when you apply, and the credit is settled on your tax return. If the result is close to the line, call us and we will go through it with you.
More free tools
FPL calculator
Work out where your household income falls as a percentage of the federal poverty level.
COBRA vs Marketplace
Compare what COBRA would cost you against a Marketplace plan for the rest of the year.
Special Enrollment checker
Find out in about a minute whether a recent life event lets you enroll outside Open Enrollment.
HSA tax savings calculator
See how much tax a Health Savings Account contribution could save you in 2026, within the IRS limits.
Medicare enrollment dates
See your seven-month Initial Enrollment Period, your earliest coverage date and your Medigap open enrollment window.
We speak insurance, so you don't have to.
Book a free, no-pressure review with Viola in Chandler, by phone or by video. Bring your questions; leave with answers.
2160 North Alma School Road, Suite 102, Chandler, AZ 85224 (480) 300-5776