1. California Health Insurance
  2. Covered California
  3. Federal Poverty Level

The Federal Poverty Level and Your Healthcare

How Your Income Will Affect What You Pay for Health Insurance

Your Federal Poverty Level (FPL), as calculated based on your annual income, will determine how much you pay for health insurance. Your FPL will be used by the Covered California Health Insurance Exchange to identify if you are eligible for a subsidy and to determine the level of cost sharing that would apply, if any, for your Covered CA Plan. People whose income is within a certain range of the federal poverty level will be able to get reduced monthly premiums and sometimes, lower fees for medical services also.

What is the Federal Poverty Level?

The “Federal Poverty Level” (FPL) is the measurement standard that the Department of Health and Human Services uses to determine if an individual or family is eligible for government-regulated programs and services. Federal poverty level amounts are updated annually and are commonly published by various government agencies.

FPL-eligibility-for-tax-credit

How do I qualify for reduced premiums and cost sharing?

To qualify for a subsidy from the government, families must purchase their coverage through Covered California, and have a gross income no more than 400% of the federal poverty level. To also qualify for cost sharing reductions, your family gross income must be more than 138% and less than 250% of the federal poverty level. View the chart in the next paragraph to find what you qualify for based on your family size and income.

How do I calculate my Federal Poverty Level?

Determine what percentage your family gross income is compared to the federal poverty level. View the below chart Covered California income limits.

Step 1: Find your family size in the left panel.

Step 2: Find your gross family income level.

Step 3: Using Steps 1 and 2, look at the top of the chart to see if you qualify for Medicaid, Cost Sharing & Subsidy, Subsidy Only, or No Subsidy.

Program Eligibility by Federal Poverty Level for 2024

Your financial help and whether you qualify for various Covered California or Medi-Cal programs depends on your income, based on the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

Covered California program eligibility by federal poverty level table

* Consumers at 400% FPL or higher may receive a federal premium tax credit to lower their premium to a maximum of 8.5 percent of their income based on the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in their area.