Covered California Income Limits & Subsidy Tips for 2026 - Watch on YouTube
Your Covered California income limits determine what kind of financial help you qualify for in 2026 — whether that's free or low-cost Medi-Cal, a federal premium tax credit that lowers your monthly premium, an enhanced Silver plan with lower out-of-pocket costs, or the California state subsidy. Eligibility is based on your household's income compared to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for your household size.
Below is the complete 2026 Covered California income chart, followed by a plain-English breakdown of each program and the one detail most people (and most websites) get wrong. We are licensed California agents and we walk people through this every day — at no cost.
Annual household income (Modified Adjusted Gross Income). Covered California uses the prior year's Federal Poverty Level to set these ranges for 2026.
| Household Size | 100% FPL | 138% (Medi-Cal adult cap) |
150% (Silver 94 cap) |
200% (Silver 87 cap) |
250% (Silver 73 cap) |
266% (Medi-Cal kids cap) |
400% (Fed subsidy cap) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,650 | $22,025 | $23,475 | $31,300 | $39,125 | $42,454 | $62,600 |
| 2 people | $21,150 | $29,864 | $31,725 | $42,300 | $52,875 | $57,563 | $84,600 |
| 3 people | $26,650 | $37,702 | $39,975 | $53,300 | $66,625 | $72,672 | $106,600 |
| 4 people | $32,150 | $45,540 | $48,225 | $64,300 | $80,375 | $87,780 | $128,600 |
| 5 people | $37,650 | $53,379 | $56,475 | $75,300 | $94,125 | $102,889 | $150,600 |
| 6 people | $43,150 | $61,217 | $64,725 | $86,300 | $107,875 | $117,998 | $172,600 |
| 7 people | $48,650 | $69,056 | $72,975 | $97,300 | $121,625 | $133,107 | $194,600 |
| 8 people | $54,150 | $76,894 | $81,225 | $108,300 | $135,375 | $148,216 | $216,600 |
Each additional person adds about $5,500 to the 100% FPL figure. Orange = Medi-Cal eligibility range (adults). Figures reflect the official 2026 Covered California program chart.
Free or very low-cost coverage for adults earning up to 138% of FPL. California's Medicaid program — no monthly premium for most enrollees.
Kids under 19 can qualify for Medi-Cal at higher household incomes than adults — up to 266% of FPL.
The richest enhanced Silver plan. The plan covers about 94% of your average costs — very low deductibles and copays for those who qualify.
A strong enhanced Silver tier covering roughly 87% of average costs — still a major upgrade over a standard Silver plan.
A modest cost-sharing boost over standard Silver. Note: the COVID-era version that was available regardless of income ended December 31, 2025.
Lowers your monthly premium on a sliding scale. The lower your income within this range, the larger your credit.
An additional California-specific subsidy layered on top of the federal credit for lower-income enrollees.
MAGI Medi-Cal (138–213% FPL) and the Medi-Cal Access Program / MCAP (213–322% FPL) provide comprehensive pregnancy coverage.
Covered California and Medi-Cal do not use the same Federal Poverty Level year. Covered California uses the previous year's FPL to determine subsidy and Silver-plan eligibility, while Medi-Cal uses the current year's FPL (as calculated by the Department of Health Care Services). That's why the 138% figure can look slightly different depending on which program you're checking.
This trips up a lot of people right at the Medi-Cal / Covered California border — and getting your income estimate right is where we save people the most headaches (and money). If you're near a threshold, it's worth a two-minute conversation.
For those who qualify for a premium tax credit, your expected contribution is based on your household FPL percentage (using the second-lowest-cost Silver plan as the benchmark):
| Household FPL | Expected % of Income for Premium |
|---|---|
| Under 150% FPL | 0% of household income |
| Above 150–165% FPL | 3.19% – 3.91% |
| Above 165% under 200% FPL | 4.91% – 6.60% |
| 200% under 250% FPL | 6.60% – 8.44% |
| 250% under 300% FPL | 8.44% – 9.96% |
| 300–400% FPL | 9.96% |
Above 400% FPL, the enhanced federal caps that applied through 2025 are no longer in effect for 2026 — which makes an accurate income estimate more important than ever. Run a quote to see your actual numbers.
Covered California uses your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) — essentially your adjusted gross income from your tax return, plus a few add-backs like tax-exempt interest, non-taxable Social Security benefits, and foreign earned income. For most people the starting point is the AGI on their Form 1040.
Because subsidies are reconciled at tax time, estimating your income accurately matters. Underestimate and you may owe money back; overestimate and you leave help on the table. If your income varies or you're self-employed, this is exactly the kind of thing we sort out with people every day.