FYI
To determine your eligibility for lower costs, we ask for two kinds of income:
- Your current income this month
- Your estimated income for the full year you want coverage
First we'll ask for your current income. Later, we'll show you monthly and yearly estimates based on that. You can change the estimates to account for any changes you expect during the coverage year.
Gross or net? For jobs, enter current "federal taxable income" (or "taxable income"). That's your gross income (before taxes are taken out) minus anything your employer withholds for health insurance, retirement savings, and dependent care.
Income change throughout the year or hard to estimate? If your income is hard to predict, base your estimate on past experience and what you know about possible changes. Use our income calculator for help.
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If the monthly or yearly estimates don't seem right
The yearly or monthly estimates we show you may not account for things like income you don't get now but expect later, current income you're not likely to get in the coverage year, expected changes in your job status or work schedule, or income that's hard to predict, like from tips or commissions.
- If you need to correct your CURRENT income sources: Select the "Edit" button next to "Current monthly income" on your income summary page and make any needed changes.
- If you need to correct the EXPECTED YEARLY income estimate: Select the "Edit" button next to where your total income for the year is listed.
- If you're paid tips, commissions, or bonuses; work seasonally; expect a raise or job change; or have a changing work schedule: Make your best estimate of your income for the year you'll have coverage. If things change, come back to update your income later in the year.
- If you’re not sure if this amount is correct, use our income calculator for help.
- See how we make your monthly and yearly estimates.
Get details about entering specific types of income.
How we make the income estimates
- You enter the income you get currently, from jobs and other sources, and how often you get it.
- We add all your current income sources together and, based on how often you get each type, come up with an estimated total for the coverage year.
- We divide this amount by 12 to get an average monthly estimate for the coverage year. This amount appears on the income summary screen in your application.
- We use this average monthly income to estimate your total yearly income for the year you want coverage. This amount appears on the income summary screen, too, near the top of the page. It's the amount we use to determine the financial help you're eligible for.