Everyone you claim on your return, including yourself
Alaska and Hawaii have their own poverty guidelines
Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) — what you expect to earn, not last year
What counts toward MAGI?
The second-lowest-cost Silver plan for your household — look it up on healthcare.gov
Why this plan and not the one I want to buy?
Premium tax credit
$0
Estimate for reference only, not verified proof — check the sources below, and their access date, before relying on this for a claim or filing.
Credit across the income range, with the 400% cliff as the drop to zero. The dot is your household.
- Your income as a share of the poverty line
- 0%
- You pay for the benchmark plan
- $0
- —
- $0
- —
- $0
Massachusetts ACA subsidy cliff 2027
The income where the Marketplace subsidy ends in Massachusetts, what crossing it costs, and a calculator for your own household.
For 2027 coverage in Massachusetts, the ACA premium tax credit stops at $86,560 of income for a couple — 400% of the poverty line. For a 40-year-old couple buying the benchmark Silver plan, going $1 over that line costs an estimated $3,010 a year in lost subsidy, because the credit drops straight to zero instead of tapering.
Reviewed by RuleCost Editorial Team. Rules for 2027, updated 13 Oct 2026.
How to use it
- 1The calculator starts with a couple in Massachusetts at the cliff line and the state's average benchmark premium for age 40. Change the household size and income to yours.
- 2Replace the premium with your own second-lowest-cost Silver plan from HealthCare.gov or your state marketplace — it depends on county and ages.
- 3Read how far you are from the cliff and what crossing it would cost for the year.
Massachusetts at a glance
| Subsidy ends above (2027 coverage) | $63,840 single, $86,560 couple, $132,000 family of four |
|---|---|
| Average benchmark premium, age 40 (2026) | $494 a month |
| Age rating | Massachusetts's own age curve |
| Medicaid expansion | Yes — below 138% of the poverty line |
Where and when to enroll in Massachusetts for 2027
Massachusetts residents enroll through Massachusetts Health Connector. Its 2027 open enrollment deadline was not consistently published when we checked, so confirm the dates on Massachusetts Health Connector before you rely on them.
ConnectorCare adds state help on top of the federal credit for lower incomes. Help between 400% and 500% of the poverty line was not offered in 2026, and the 2027 tiers had not been published when we checked on 13 October 2026.
Dates and programs as published by 13 October 2026. Marketplaces sometimes change them, so check Massachusetts Health Connector before a deadline.
2027 income limits by household size in Massachusetts
Marketplace help for 2027 coverage is measured against the 2026 federal poverty guidelines, and the limits stay fixed for the whole plan year. Household size is everyone on your tax return, not everyone who needs coverage.
| People | Subsidy ends above | Medicaid up to | 94% Silver up to | Silver extras end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $63,840 | $22,025 | $23,940 | $39,900 |
| 2 | $86,560 | $29,863 | $32,460 | $54,100 |
| 3 | $109,280 | $37,702 | $40,980 | $68,300 |
| 4 | $132,000 | $45,540 | $49,500 | $82,500 |
| 5 | $154,720 | $53,378 | $58,020 | $96,700 |
| 6 | $177,440 | $61,217 | $66,540 | $110,900 |
| 7 | $200,160 | $69,055 | $75,060 | $125,100 |
| 8 | $222,880 | $76,894 | $83,580 | $139,300 |
- Subsidy ends above — the 400% cliff. Just under it, the most you pay for the benchmark plan is 10.22% of income: $544 a month for one person, $737 for two, $1,124 for four. One dollar over, you pay full price.
- Medicaid up to — adults 19 to 64 at or under 138% of the poverty line get Medicaid instead of a Marketplace subsidy. Medicaid uses the guidelines in force when you apply, so this column rises a little when the 2027 guidelines come out in January.
- 94% Silver up to — at or under 150% of the poverty line, a Silver plan pays 94% of covered costs instead of the usual 70%, which means much lower deductibles and copays. Between 150% and 200% it pays 87%.
- Silver extras end — above 250% the extra Silver savings (73% at 200–250%) stop. They only apply if you pick a Silver plan.
What the cliff costs a 40-year-old couple
Two people, both 40, with a combined benchmark premium of about $988 a month ($11,856 a year). At $86,560 of income they pay at most 10.22% of it — $8,846 a year — and the credit covers the rest.
| Income | Credit | They pay |
|---|---|---|
| $86,560 | $3,010 | $8,846 |
| $86,561 | $0 | $11,856 |
Massachusetts sets its own age curve, so a 60-year-old estimate isn't comparable across states; older couples pay more and lose more. Compare every state.
Premiums are 2026 averages. 2027 premiums are published in late October, and insurers' proposed rates point to double-digit increases — which would make the cliff bigger, not smaller.
Medicaid and the 2027 work requirement in Massachusetts
Massachusetts expanded Medicaid, so adults 19 to 64 earning up to $22,025 (one person) or $45,540 (family of four) qualify for Medicaid, and can't take the Marketplace subsidy instead.
Federal law now adds a condition for these adults: 80 hours a month of work, community service, a work program or at least half-time school — or $580 a month of earnings — unless they are exempt. Parents and caretakers of a child aged 13 or under, and people who are medically frail, are among the exemptions. States must start by 1 January 2027 (HHS can grant extensions to 31 December 2028) and check at application and at least every six months.
Questions
- What is the ACA subsidy cliff in Massachusetts for 2027?
- The income at which the premium tax credit ends: 400% of the federal poverty line. For 2027 coverage that is $63,840 for one person, $86,560 for a couple and $132,000 for a family of four.
- How much does going over the cliff cost in Massachusetts?
- It depends on age and county. For a 40-year-old couple paying the Massachusetts average benchmark premium of about $988 a month for both, the credit at the cliff edge is worth about $3,010 a year. One dollar more income and all of it goes.
- Why is my premium different from this estimate?
- This uses the Massachusetts average benchmark premium for a 40-year-old. Your real benchmark depends on your county, the ages of everyone covered and the plan year, so check it on HealthCare.gov or your state's marketplace and enter it in the calculator above.
- Has Massachusetts expanded Medicaid?
- Yes. Adults aged 19 to 64 with income up to 138% of the poverty line — $22,025 for one person in 2026 — qualify for Medicaid in Massachusetts instead of a Marketplace subsidy. From 2027 most of them also have to meet the federal work requirement.
- Can I get back under the cliff?
- Sometimes. The cliff is measured on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), which pre-tax contributions to a traditional 401(k), traditional IRA or HSA can lower. The limits and deadlines are specific, so confirm with a tax professional before relying on it.