Covered California Estimated Income Calculator
Use this calculator to estimate your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) for Covered California. Your MAGI is a key factor in determining your eligibility for financial assistance (subsidies) to help pay for health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs, or for Medi-Cal.
Understanding Covered California Income and MAGI
Covered California is California's health insurance marketplace, established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It allows individuals and families to shop for health insurance plans and potentially receive financial assistance to make coverage more affordable. The amount of financial help you qualify for is primarily based on your household's Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI).
What is Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)?
For ACA purposes, MAGI is a specific calculation used to determine eligibility for premium tax credits (subsidies) and Medi-Cal. It's generally your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from your federal tax return, with certain deductions added back. The most common add-backs include:
- Tax-exempt interest (e.g., from municipal bonds)
- Non-taxable Social Security benefits (though often, only the taxable portion is initially included in AGI, so this is less common as an explicit add-back for many)
- Foreign earned income exclusion
It's important to note that for ACA MAGI, many common tax deductions that reduce your AGI (like student loan interest, IRA contributions, or self-employment tax deductions) are NOT subtracted. This means your MAGI for Covered California can often be higher than your AGI.
Why is MAGI Important for Covered California?
Your MAGI, in relation to your household size, determines your percentage of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). This FPL percentage is critical for:
- Medi-Cal Eligibility: In California, adults with MAGI up to 138% of the FPL are generally eligible for Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program.
- Premium Tax Credits (APTC): If your MAGI is above 138% FPL, you may qualify for Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTCs) to lower your monthly health insurance premiums. The amount of these credits is inversely related to your income – the lower your MAGI, the higher your subsidy.
- Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSR): If your MAGI is between 138% and 250% of the FPL, you may also qualify for Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSRs), which lower your out-of-pocket costs like deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.
Estimating Your Future Income
A crucial aspect of applying through Covered California is that you must estimate your income for the year you need coverage, not your past year's income. Life changes like a new job, retirement, or changes in household size can significantly impact your eligibility. It's vital to update Covered California if your income or household size changes during the year.
Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
The FPL guidelines are issued annually by the federal government. Covered California uses these guidelines to determine eligibility for financial assistance. The calculator uses the most recent available FPL numbers (e.g., 2023 FPL for 2024 coverage) as a reference. These numbers are subject to change each year.
Disclaimer:
This calculator provides an estimate based on the information you provide and general Covered California rules. It is not a guarantee of eligibility or financial assistance. Your actual eligibility will be determined by Covered California after you submit a full application and provide any required documentation. Always refer to the official Covered California website or consult with a certified enrollment counselor for personalized advice.
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function getFPL(householdSize) {
// 2023 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and D.C.
// These are used for 2024 coverage year eligibility.
var baseFPL = 14580; // FPL for 1 person
var increment = 5140; // Increment for each additional person
if (householdSize <= 0) {
return 0;
}
if (householdSize === 1) {
return baseFPL;
}
return baseFPL + (householdSize – 1) * increment;
}
function calculateCoveredCaliforniaIncome() {
var householdSize = parseFloat(document.getElementById("householdSize").value) || 0;
var annualWages = parseFloat(document.getElementById("annualWages").value) || 0;
var annualSelfEmployment = parseFloat(document.getElementById("annualSelfEmployment").value) || 0;
var annualTaxableSS = parseFloat(document.getElementById("annualTaxableSS").value) || 0;
var annualTaxableRetirement = parseFloat(document.getElementById("annualTaxableRetirement").value) || 0;
var annualTaxableInvestment = parseFloat(document.getElementById("annualTaxableInvestment").value) || 0;
var annualOtherTaxable = parseFloat(document.getElementById("annualOtherTaxable").value) || 0;
var annualTaxExemptInterest = parseFloat(document.getElementById("annualTaxExemptInterest").value) || 0;
var annualForeignEarnedExclusion = parseFloat(document.getElementById("annualForeignEarnedExclusion").value) || 0;
if (householdSize < 1) {
document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = "Please enter a valid Household Size (at least 1).";
return;
}
var estimatedMAGI = annualWages + annualSelfEmployment + annualTaxableSS + annualTaxableRetirement +
annualTaxableInvestment + annualOtherTaxable + annualTaxExemptInterest +
annualForeignEarnedExclusion;
var householdFPL = getFPL(householdSize);
var fplPercentage = (estimatedMAGI / householdFPL) * 100;
var eligibilityMessage = "";
if (estimatedMAGI === 0) {
eligibilityMessage = "Your estimated MAGI is $0. You are very likely eligible for Medi-Cal.";
} else if (fplPercentage < 138) {
eligibilityMessage = "Based on your estimated MAGI, you are likely eligible for
Medi-Cal.";
} else if (fplPercentage >= 138 && fplPercentage <= 400) {
eligibilityMessage = "Based on your estimated MAGI, you are likely eligible for
significant financial help (subsidies) to lower your monthly health insurance premiums and potentially out-of-pocket costs through Covered California.";
} else { // Above 400% FPL, but still might get subsidies if premiums are high due to IRA 2022 enhancements
eligibilityMessage = "Based on your estimated MAGI, you may still be eligible for some financial help if the cost of a benchmark plan exceeds 8.5% of your household income. You should still apply through Covered California to see your exact eligibility.";
}
var resultHTML = "
Calculation Results:
";
resultHTML += "
Estimated Annual MAGI: $" + estimatedMAGI.toLocaleString('en-US', { minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2 }) + "";
resultHTML += "
Household Size: " + householdSize + "";
resultHTML += "
Corresponding Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for your household size: $" + householdFPL.toLocaleString('en-US', { minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2 }) + "";
resultHTML += "
Your Estimated MAGI as a Percentage of FPL: " + fplPercentage.toLocaleString('en-US', { minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2 }) + "%";
resultHTML += "" + eligibilityMessage + "";
resultHTML += "
Note: FPL numbers are based on 2023 guidelines, typically used for 2024 coverage. These numbers are updated annually. This is an estimate; actual eligibility is determined by Covered California.";
document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = resultHTML;
}