My employer offers health insurance. Can I still get a Marketplace premium tax credit in 2026?

Health insuranceBuying a policyChecked Nov 6, 2026

From K.Actuary, founded by Sangmin Kwon, ASA · sources checked 2026-11-06 · Source: HealthCare.gov · Job-based health insurance options · page text View original ↗

In short

If your job plan is "affordable," you cannot get the tax credit.
In 2026, that means your cost is 9.96% of your income or less.
For your family, the test uses the price of family coverage.

What this means

HealthCare.gov says: if your job plan is affordable and meets basic standards, you cannot get the tax credit for a Marketplace plan [1].

For you, the worker, look at your share of the yearly price for coverage of just you. The plan is affordable if that share is no more than a set percent of your household income [2]. For plan years that start in 2026, the percent is 9.96% [3].

For your spouse and kids, the test uses what you must pay for family coverage [2]. So if family coverage costs more than 9.96% of your income, your family may get the tax credit even if you cannot.

Your next step

Ask HR for the monthly cost of the lowest-cost self-only plan and of family coverage. Multiply by 12 and compare with 9.96% of your expected 2026 household income. The sources give no deadline; Marketplace sign-up still follows Open Enrollment or a Special Enrollment Period.

Check it yourself

Read the HealthCare.gov page above. Whether the job plan meets "minimum value" — "Don't know yet"; your employer can tell you. The 2027 percentage — "Don't know yet" (not checked here).

Where this comes from (3)

[1] HealthCare.gov · Job-based health insurance options · page text · checked 2026-11-06
If your employer’s plan meets this standard and is considered “affordable,” you won’t qualify for a premium tax credit if you buy a Marketplace insurance plan instead.
[2] eCFR · 26 CFR 1.36B-2 · § 1.36B-2(c)(3)(v)(A)(1)-(2) · checked 2026-11-06
Affordability for employee. Except as provided in paragraph (c)(3)(v)(A)( 3 ) of this section, an eligible employer-sponsored plan is affordable for an employee if the portion of the annual premium the employee must pay, whether by salary reduction or otherwise (required contribution), for self-only coverage does not exceed the required contribution percentage … Affordability for related individual. Except as provide…
[3] IRS · Rev. Proc. 2025-25 · page 3, Section 3.02 · checked 2026-11-06
Required Contribution Percentage for 2026. For plan years beginning in calendar year 2026, the Required Contribution Percentage for purposes of § 36B(c)(2)(C)(i)(II) and § 1.36B-2(c)(3)(v)(C) is 9.96%.

How we found this

We matched your question to 3 official sources, quoted the exact lines, and re-checked each quote against its source on 2026-11-06.

What we don’t know yet

Your own plan or notice may say something different. If your letter cites another rule, send it and we will look again.

Every answer is checked against the official rule it quotes.

Information only — not legal advice. Your plan, insurer or agency decides.

This answer quotes the official sources listed above, with the date we checked them. Your own policy, notice and state rules control. We are not your lawyer or your insurer. We don’t file, argue or negotiate claims for you — you send any letter or form yourself.

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