If you’ve stared down a stack of unexpected medical bills or worried about how to afford ongoing healthcare costs, you’re not alone. A 2023 KFF report found that 1 in 3 U.S. adults have skipped or delayed care because of cost, a crisis that has pushed millions to seek out federal relief programs like the Save (Savings) Premium Assistance Plan. If you’re wondering Am I Eligible for Save Plan, you’ve landed in the right place. This guide will break down every eligibility rule, hidden qualifying factors, and step-by-step checks you can use to confirm your status, plus walk you through how to apply if you qualify. We’ll cover everything from income thresholds to renewal rules, so you can make informed decisions about your healthcare coverage without overspending.
Core Eligibility Basics for the Save Plan
You qualify for the Save Plan if you meet three core federal criteria: U.S. residency or lawful immigration status, a gap in employer-sponsored or public healthcare coverage, and a household income tied to the federal poverty level (FPL). The Save Plan, officially called the Savings Insurance Premium Assistance Program, is designed exclusively for people who buy individual health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, also known as the Exchange. Unlike plans from your job, individual Marketplace plans can be expensive, so the program uses your income and household size to calculate monthly subsidies that lower your premium costs. You cannot be incarcerated (with very limited exceptions for pre-trial detainees or those serving short non-violent sentences) to qualify for the program.
Household Income Thresholds That Determine Save Plan Eligibility
To understand exactly how income impacts your Save Plan eligibility, let’s break down the 2024 federal poverty level brackets for different household sizes. The Save Plan uses your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) to determine eligibility and subsidy amount. MAGI is your federal adjusted gross income plus certain tax-exempt income, like foreign earned income or interest from tax-exempt municipal bonds. Unlike your gross paycheck income, MAGI subtracts eligible deductions and exemptions to give a more accurate picture of your available income for healthcare costs.
| Household Size | 2024 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $14,580 |
| 2 people | $19,720 |
| 3 people | $24,860 |
| 4 people | $30,000 |
| 5 people | $35,140 |
| 6 people | $40,280 |
| 7 people | $45,420 |
| 8 people | $50,560 |
| Each additional person | Add $5,140 |
Prior to the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Save Plan only covered people with MAGI between 100% and 400% of their household’s FPL. The IRA expanded the program dramatically: now there is no upper income limit, and anyone with MAGI at or above 100% of their FPL can qualify for subsidies, as long as they don’t have access to affordable employer coverage or public healthcare like Medicaid or CHIP. This means even people with six-figure incomes can qualify for subsidies if they don’t have other affordable coverage options.
Your household’s FPL bracket is based on the number of people you’ll claim on your federal tax return for the coverage year. For example, a single person earning $20,000 a year in 2024 has a MAGI above 100% of the $14,580 FPL threshold, so they qualify for subsidies. A family of four earning $80,000 a year will also qualify, since their income is well below the 400% FPL threshold of $120,000.
Who Counts as Part of Your Household for Save Plan Eligibility?
Now that we’ve covered income thresholds, let’s talk about who counts toward your household size for eligibility purposes. Your household size for Save Plan eligibility isn’t just the people you live with—it’s the people you’ll claim as dependents on your federal tax return for the coverage year. This includes everyone who relies on you for more than half their financial support, plus your spouse if you file a joint tax return.
- Your spouse if you file a joint federal tax return
- Biological, adopted, or foster children under the age of 21
- Adult children up to age 26 who rely on you for more than half their financial support
- Elderly parents or other relatives you support financially and claim as IRS dependents
Some people do not count toward your household size, including anyone who files their own tax return, your spouse if you file separate tax returns, and dependents who don’t meet the IRS’s official qualifying criteria. This means a roommate who pays their own rent and files their own taxes won’t be added to your household size.
For example, if you’re a single parent with two kids who live with you full-time and you claim them on your taxes, your household size is 3. This pushes your 2024 FPL threshold up to $24,860, meaning you’ll qualify for subsidies if your MAGI is below that limit (or above, if you don’t have other coverage options).
Special Eligibility Rules for People Below 100% FPL
Beyond standard income and household rules, there are special eligibility provisions for people with very low incomes who live in non-Medicaid expansion states. Before the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), people with MAGI below 100% of their household’s FPL were locked out of Save Plan subsidies, even if they couldn’t afford employer-sponsored coverage. This was a major gap for people in states that didn’t expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), since they couldn’t qualify for Medicaid either. The IRA fixed this gap, making enhanced subsidies available to these low-income people.
- You must live in a state that did NOT expand Medicaid under the ACA (as of 2024, 10 states fall into this category)
- Your MAGI must be less than 100% of the federal poverty level for your household size
- You cannot be eligible for Medicaid, CHIP, or affordable employer-sponsored coverage
- You must enroll in a Silver-level Marketplace plan to access these enhanced subsidies
The 10 non-expansion states as of 2024 are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming. A 2023 KFF report found that 2.3 million people in these states now qualify for these enhanced subsidies, which will cover 100% of their monthly Silver plan premium for most participants.
These enhanced subsidies are set to remain in place through 2025, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act’s extended funding. If you live in a non-expansion state and earn below 100% FPL, it’s worth checking your eligibility to see if you can get $0 monthly premiums.
Exclusions That Disqualify You From the Save Plan
While the Save Plan opens up affordable coverage to millions of people, there are clear exclusions that will keep you from qualifying. It’s important to review these rules before applying to avoid wasting time on an application you won’t be approved for. Some of the most common disqualifying factors include incarceration, non-lawful immigration status, and access to affordable employer-sponsored coverage.
- Incarceration: Most incarcerated people are not eligible, though pre-trial detainees and those serving short non-violent sentences may qualify in some cases
- Non-lawfully present immigrants: Only U.S. citizens and qualified immigrants (like green card holders, refugees, and people granted asylum) can apply
- Affordable employer-sponsored coverage: If your job offers a plan that costs less than 10.03% of your household income for self-only coverage and pays for at least 60% of medical costs, you can’t claim Save Plan subsidies
- Public coverage eligibility: If you qualify for Medicaid, CHIP, or TRICARE, you can’t use Save Plan subsidies
The affordability threshold for employer-sponsored plans is updated each year by the IRS. For 2024, that threshold is 10.03% of your household’s MAGI. If your employer’s plan costs more than that, you may still qualify for Save Plan subsidies.
For example, if your household income is $60,000 a year, your employer’s self-only plan can’t cost more than $6,018 annually (about $501 a month) for you to be disqualified from Save Plan subsidies. If their plan costs more than that, you can apply for Marketplace subsidies to lower your monthly premium.
How to Verify Your Save Plan Eligibility Before Applying
Now that you know the rules for qualifying, you might be wondering how to check if you actually meet the criteria. The good news is that you don’t have to guess—there are free, official tools that let you check your eligibility in minutes, no professional help required.
| Eligibility Check Tool | How to Access It |
|---|---|
| Marketplace Eligibility Calculator | Official HealthCare.gov website |
| State-Based Marketplace Tool | Your state’s official insurance marketplace website |
| Certified Navigator Support | Find a local helper through HealthCare.gov or your state’s marketplace |
When using these tools, you’ll need to share basic information like your projected annual household income for the coming year, the number of people in your household, your immigration status, and whether you have access to employer-sponsored or public healthcare coverage. You should also have your most recent pay stubs or tax return on hand to estimate your income accurately.
Even if you think you earn too much or too little to qualify, it’s still worth running a quick check. Policy changes like the IRA have expanded eligibility dramatically, and many people miss out on hundreds of dollars in annual subsidies because they assume they don’t qualify.
Renewing Your Save Plan Eligibility Each Year
Finally, it’s important to remember that Save Plan eligibility isn’t a one-time check—you’ll need to renew your eligibility each year to keep receiving your subsidies. This process happens automatically in most cases, but it’s important to review your information each fall to avoid losing your subsidies mid-year.
- You’ll receive a renewal notice from the Marketplace in September or October of each year
- Review the notice for any errors in your household size, income, or coverage details
- Update any changes, like a new child, a job loss, or a move to a new state, before the deadline
- Confirm your eligibility status with the Marketplace before your plan renews each month
A 2023 survey by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners found that 1 in 4 people who lost their Save Plan subsidies did so because they failed to update their information on time or missed their renewal deadline. This is an avoidable mistake that can leave you stuck with full, unaffordable premium costs.
If you have questions about your renewal, contact a certified navigator or the Marketplace’s customer support line for free, personalized help. It’s better to double-check your eligibility early than to be caught off guard when your subsidies run out.
The Save Plan is a powerful tool that can cut your monthly healthcare premiums by hundreds of dollars, but only if you qualify for the program. By now, you should have a clear understanding of the core eligibility criteria, income thresholds, household rules, and exclusions that determine whether you can access these subsidies. Whether you’re a single person buying individual coverage or a family of four looking to save on premiums, taking the time to confirm your eligibility can make a huge difference in your monthly budget.
If you’re ready to take the next step, head to the official HealthCare.gov website or contact a certified navigator near you for free help checking your eligibility. Don’t let uncertainty keep you from accessing the affordable healthcare you deserve—start your eligibility check today to see if you qualify for the Save Plan.