Your Marketplace savings are based on the income you expect in the year you want coverage. They are not based on last year's income. So when you apply for 2027 coverage, you are making a guess about 2027. A good guess helps you get the right amount of help.
Florida uses HealthCare.gov. As of October 2, 2026, open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026, to January 15, 2027. See every date in our Florida open enrollment guide.
Why your estimate matters more in 2027
As of October 2, 2026, under current law, there is no cap on paying back extra tax credit, starting with 2026 taxes. If you get more credit during the year than you qualify for, you pay back all of the extra. It comes off your refund or adds to what you owe.
As of October 2, 2026, under current law, the tax credit is generally for incomes from 100% to 400% of the poverty line. Bigger credits that helped some people above 400% ended after 2025. A bill to bring them back for 2026 through 2028 (H.R. 1834) passed the House on January 8, 2026. As of October 2, 2026, it has not passed the Senate and is not law. Its latest action, on February 10, 2026, placed it on the Senate calendar.
Being just over the 400% line can mean no credit at all. That is often called the subsidy cliff. We cover it in a separate guide.
Your estimate also decides if you get extra savings called cost-sharing reductions. They lower what you pay for deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. You only get them with a Silver plan. (American Indians and Alaska Natives have their own rules.) See our guide to bronze vs. silver plans in Florida.
Step 1: Start with adjusted gross income
Find your household's adjusted gross income (AGI). It is on your most recent federal tax return. On a 2025 Form 1040, it is on line 11a. On 2024 and earlier returns, it is on line 11.
No recent AGI? Start with "federal taxable wages" from each earner's pay stub. If the stub doesn't show it, use gross pay. Then subtract what your job takes out for health coverage, child care, or retirement. Multiply by the number of paychecks you expect in the year.
Step 2: Add three kinds of untaxed income
The Marketplace uses modified adjusted gross income, or MAGI. For most people it is the same as, or close to, AGI. To get it, add these to your AGI:
- Untaxed foreign income
- Untaxed Social Security benefits
- Tax-exempt interest
Don't add Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Step 3: Adjust for 2027
Think about what will change next year for everyone in your household. HealthCare.gov lists things like these:
- Raises or new jobs
- Changes to work hours or self-employment income
- Changes to Social Security or investment income
- Gaining or losing a dependent
If your income is hard to predict, base your guess on past years, recent trends, and what you know is coming. HealthCare.gov also has an income calculator to help.
What counts and what doesn't
Count these:
- Wages and tips (use federal taxable wages)
- Self-employment income after expenses
- All Social Security, taxed or not, before any deductions
- Social Security Disability Income (SSDI)
- Unemployment
- Most IRA and 401(k) withdrawals, and pensions
- Capital gains, interest, and dividends
- Net rental and royalty income
Don't count these:
- Child support, gifts, and loans
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Veterans' disability payments and workers' compensation
- Child Tax Credit payments
Who counts in your household
A Marketplace household is usually you, your spouse, and anyone you will claim as a tax dependent. Include them even if they don't need coverage. If you are married, you generally need to file a joint tax return to get savings.
Count a dependent's income only if they must file a federal tax return. HealthCare.gov says to list it anyway, and the application leaves it out if they don't need to file.
Families in Central Florida can get help comparing family plans in Orlando.
If you're self-employed
Report your net self-employment income. That is your income minus business expenses. That is the profit you report on Schedule C. If you may be asked to prove it, keep a detailed record of your income and expenses.
If you pay for your own health plan, the self-employed health insurance deduction can lower your AGI. That can change your estimate, so talk to a tax pro about it.
In Central Florida, see our page on health insurance for self-employed people in Orlando. You can also find your trade on our industries we serve page.
If your income changes during the year
Update your Marketplace application as soon as you can. If your income goes up and you don't report it, you may have to pay back credit at tax time. If it goes down, you could qualify for more help.
Some changes may let you sign up for a plan or change plans outside open enrollment. If you lose job-based coverage, you can usually pick a Marketplace plan from 60 days before to 60 days after it ends. Dropping your job plan on purpose, or losing it for not paying, does not count. If you have a Marketplace Silver plan and an income change ends your cost-sharing reductions, you can switch to a Bronze, Silver, or Gold plan. See our guide to special enrollment in Florida.
If your income ends up above the limit, you won't get a premium tax credit for that year. You can also compare nationwide private PPO plans. Some private plans ask health questions, and approval is not guaranteed. Some may not cover care for health problems you had before you enrolled.