What are the Federal Poverty Levels (FPL)?
In shopping for Marketplace health insurance and learning if you might qualify for certain health insurance tax subsidies, Medicaid, or CHIP you’ll hear a lot about the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Where your annual household income and household size stands relative to the FPL (also known as the federal poverty guidelines) will mean a lot in terms of what is available to you on the Marketplace. The Federal Poverty Level is defined as a measure of income issued every year by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). To learn more about getting insurance, grab our guide to getting Marketplace insurance here.
Federal Poverty Level amounts for 2021
The 2021 federal poverty level (FPL) income numbers below are used to calculate eligibility for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) based on annual household income. They are based on family size and are set as follows by HHS for all states except Alaska and Hawaii:
- $12,880 for individuals
- $17,420 for a family of 2
- $21,960 for a family of 3
- $26,500 for a family of 4
- $31,040 for a family of 5
- $35,580 for a family of 6
- $40,120 for a family of 7
- $44,660 for a family of 8
Add $4,540 for each additional person if your family/household is more than 8 people. There are no adjustments for cost of living in the 48 contiguous states.
Federal Poverty Level amounts are higher in Alaska and Hawaii. Alaska starts at $16,090 for one person and Hawaii starts at $14,820 for one person. You can read more about the FPL guidelines set by HHS here.
To see if you’re eligible for a subsidy to lower the cost of health insurance, or if you’re eligible for Medicaid, enter your zip code below.
If you aren’t eligible for free or subsidized health insurance and you can’t afford a Marketplace plan (aka Obamacare or Affordable Care Act insurance), check out our post on what to do if you fall into the Medicaid gap and our guide to finding a free clinic. You can also call us for help enrolling in health insurance at (872) 228-2549.
Important Federal Poverty Level Cut-Offs
The FPL for a given calendar year plays a key factor in determining eligibility for reduced-cost health care and health insurance. As described in the Affordable Care Act, certain percentages at, above, and below the Federal Poverty Level are used to determine certain qualifiers for everything from Marketplace subsidies to Medicaid. These are the big FPL cut-offs to know:
- Annual income between 100% and 400% of the FPL: In all states, if your income level is in this range, you will qualify for premium tax credits for ACA health coverage. These special tax subsidies lower your monthly premium for a Marketplace health insurance plan.
- Annual income below 138% of the FPL: This is the income limit for Medicaid in certain states. If your state has expanded Medicaid coverage and your income is below 138% FPL, you can qualify for Medicaid based only on your income. There are some other ways to qualify for Medicaid—you can see if you qualify for Medicaid here.
- Annual income below 100% of the FPL: If your state has expanded Medicaid coverage, you’ll qualify for Medicaid with an income under 138% of the FPL, but if your state has not expanded Medicaid, you may fall into the Medicaid gap if your income is under 100% of the FPL. If you are 65 or older or disabled, and your income is under 100% of the FPL, your state must pay for Medicare on your behalf through the Qualifying Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program.
Here are the 2021 federal poverty line cutoffs for the 48 contiguous states and District of Columbia.
| Number of people in family/household | 100% FPL | 138% FPL | 400% FPL |
| 1 | $12,880 | $17,774 | $51,520 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $24,040 | $69,680 |
| 3 | $21,960 | $30,305 | $87,840 |
| 4 | $26,500 | $36,570 | $106,000 |
| 5 | $31,040 | $42,835 | $124,160 |
| 6 | $35,580 | $49,100 | $142,320 |
| 7 | $40,120 | $55,366 | $160,480 |
| 8 | $44,660 | $61,631 | $178,640 |
I just retired 10/1/2020. 61, Nov 28th. What are my prospects, projections???
You aren’t yet eligible for Medicare, but if you enter your zip code and income information here, we’ll show you plans and prices available to you https://www.healthsherpa.com/marketplace/zip_code
You can also call us for help at (872) 228-2549
2 ppl in the house hold. 12 to 15,000$ anually. We both need dental work. And the longer we wait the more out teeth is affecting our over all health. I have heard ppl say they couldn’t talk serious to me. For my sponge Bob teathe probably makes for rank breath. . Teethe and breath is the only thing that kept me from getting a life changing contract. A good paying job. N it’s not my
I work hard to earn money. N I get made fun of over my teeth and presumably bad breath. My common law wife says she can’t smell anything. I have two big buck teeth and I need two wisdom teeth cut out. They are verry painful. N have started bleeding in interviews and jobs to the point of having to pack my jaws with gauls.
I’m sorry to hear that. Give us a call at (872) 228-2549 and we can help you enroll in dental insurance.
I have no income after the death of my husband in 2019. Marketplace offered the cheapest plan premium at $603.00. I was denied TennCare. Has anything changed that will help someone in my situation?
Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid, which means you are most likely in the Medicaid gap. You’ll qualify for most likely free Marketplace insurance if your income is above $12,880 per year as an individual. If there’s any way you can get your income above $12,880 per year through employment, retirement income, etc., then you can qualify for subsidized Marketplace insurance.
Otherwise here are some options: https://blog.healthsherpa.com/what-to-do-medicaid-gap/
Living costs
To whom this concern I’m trying to find out how to be accepted without the keishin for Section 8 or a low income housing I don’t see the application so I need some assistant how to get the application and a training program that I can get into that’s flexible
THIS IS SO SAD I’M ONLY WORKING 20 HOURS A WEEK AND GOT DENIED UNEMPLOYMENT THIS US BA TODAY I GOT MT PAY FOR 98.00$ ….ITS LUKE NOONE IS LISTENING TO ME CAN SOMEONE SEND ME IN A DIRECTION WHERE I CAN GWT SOME HELP???? I CAN’T GWT ANOTHER JOB @ THIS TIME BECAUSE I HAVE NECK SURGERY COMMING UP..I JUST HAD SURGERY ON BOTH OF MY HANDS DO TO COPPER TUNNEL AND THATS WHEN I LOST 13 HOURS
THANK YOU
DAWN
I’m sorry to hear that. We can help you get health insurance at healthsherpa.com, but you’ll have to contact your state unemployment office for unemployment issues.
As far as a place to live all i need is a grant of sorts to buy an RV i have a place to park it and live there for $400 a month i can handle that. It includes everything . Power sewer cable water all in the $400. If i could just get 5k. I can find a good Rv for that price ive seen many. And im good at upkeep and preservation once i can get one it would last the rest of my life no problem .its way cheaper than having a constant payment along with paperwork and crap doingg section 8 or other stuff where as always having to deal with paperwork. How can or is it possible to get funding for an RV.?????
Hi dawn I was reading your needs and I’m just about in your same situation. Did they come up with any suggestions for.you yet?