Beginning January 1, 2027, a federal law change limits which people can receive financial help with marketplace health insurance. Let's look at who remains eligible, who loses that help, and what people are doing now to prepare for January.
Hi, I'm Sam Jaber, a licensed Tampa health insurance broker. If you're in the U.S. on a work visa, as a refugee or asylee, or under Temporary Protected Status, you may have received marketplace tax credits for years. A federal law change ends those credits for most people in these groups on January 1, 2027.
I help people over the phone, and I hold health insurance licenses in 36 states. I'll use this page to walk you through who's still eligible for financial help, who will lose it, and what you can do before the year ends to avoid an unexpected surprise when January arrives.
When you hear about marketplace savings, we're talking about premium tax credits that lower monthly payments and, for certain people, additional reductions in deductibles and copays. HealthCare.gov groups these benefits under the word "savings." Beginning January 1, 2027, Public Law 119-21 limits those savings to noncitizens in these categories:
If you're lawfully present but not on that list, the credit no longer applies. This includes people with work visas, student visas, refugee or asylee status, and TPS. You may still be able to enroll in a marketplace plan, but without the tax credit that reduces your premium.
This particular change doesn't affect U.S. citizens. It changes the eligibility requirements for lawfully present people who are not U.S. citizens.
You can continue receiving marketplace savings in 2027 if you satisfy the regular income requirements too. But don't assume your current coverage is still the right choice when open enrollment comes around. Marketplace insurance companies requested a median 15% premium increase in their proposed 2027 rates, and some insurers are exiting certain marketplace areas. Check my state-by-state list of insurers leaving the marketplace in 2027 to find out whether your company is affected.
Once your renewal letter arrives, take time to review it instead of automatically keeping the same coverage. Make sure your doctors remain in the network, look at several other plans, and compare what you're getting. A plan that worked well for you last year might no longer be your best choice today.
Next step: Give me a call while open enrollment is underway. We'll compare your current plan with other available choices and work out an income estimate that you feel confident using.
Beginning January 1, 2027, marketplace enrollment remains available to you, but you'll have to pay the entire premium yourself. If a tax credit currently keeps your monthly payment low, that very same coverage could cost considerably more once January begins. It's better to prepare for the increase ahead of time than discover it when your first bill shows up.
What makes sense for you comes down to your state, who's in your household, and your personal circumstances. You could keep marketplace coverage and pay its full premium, or you might qualify for a private plan under that insurer's eligibility requirements. If you're waiting on a green card application, remember that the credit depends on actually having the qualifying status. Let me know how far along your application is, and I'll walk you through what that timing means.
Next step: Call me before open enrollment with your state and status. I'll compare realistic coverage choices so you can decide before January.
In a mixed-status family, each person's eligibility matters. Say one parent has a work visa, the other has a green card, and the kids are U.S. citizens. Under the new rule, qualifying family members can still receive the tax credit, but it won't cover the premium portion for anyone who doesn't qualify. That means some of the family's bill gets financial help, while the rest stays at full price.
Because of that difference, the plan offering the best value may change. It could even make more sense for family members to have separate plans instead of sharing one. We should compare the costs of both arrangements before deciding.
Next step: Let me know the age and immigration status of everyone in your family. I'll calculate what your household would pay if everyone stayed on one plan and compare that with the cost of separating the coverage.
For some people, this change already took effect a year sooner. Starting with the 2026 plan year, lawfully present immigrants earning less than the federal poverty line who are ineligible for Medicaid because of immigration status stopped qualifying for premium tax credits. According to CMS, those individuals may still purchase marketplace coverage, but they must pay the full premium themselves.
If you're in that situation, a change in what you expect to earn next year could also change which rules affect you. Share your projected income with me, and I'll explain how the requirements apply to your circumstances.
Next step: Call me with your income and immigration status, and I'll walk you through the coverage choices available in your state.
If you'll lose your credit and face full premiums in 2027, we should also compare the cost of a private nationwide PPO. Whether that makes sense depends on your circumstances, since private insurers have their own eligibility requirements. I can't guarantee approval for every immigration status. Contact me about yours, and I'll check the possibilities across the 36 states where I'm licensed.
You won't pay anything for my assistance. I'm compensated by the insurance company, so working with me doesn't increase your premium compared with signing up directly yourself.
Straight answers, no sales pitch.
Yes, you can. The loss of a tax credit doesn't automatically mean you lose marketplace enrollment eligibility. Many people with qualifying lawful statuses, including work visa holders, refugees, asylees and TPS holders, can continue purchasing marketplace health insurance. They simply have to cover the entire premium without that credit.
U.S. citizens, green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and COFA migrants who meet income requirements. Other lawful statuses lose eligibility January 1, 2027.
No, this rule by itself doesn't eliminate the credit for your entire family. Eligibility is considered separately for each person. In households with different immigration statuses, the credit can still reduce premiums for qualifying members, while the portion covering ineligible members remains unsubsidized. I'll calculate what that means for your family's actual costs.
The change takes effect January 1, 2027, when the 2027 plan year begins. Since open enrollment happens in fall 2026, that's your opportunity to review your choices, compare plans and decide what works.
Let me know which state you're in, who needs insurance in your household, everyone's immigration status, and about how much household income you expect next year. I'll walk you through the changes that affect you and compare prices for coverage that makes sense.
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