Marriage and the ACA Premium Tax Credit: Questions and Answers
Marriage and the ACA Premium Tax Credit
Marriage is a life event that can affect your eligibility for the ACA premium tax credit (PTC). The PTC is a tax credit that helps low- and moderate-income individuals and families afford health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
How does marriage affect the PTC?
When you get married, your household income and size change. This can affect your eligibility for the PTC and the amount of PTC you receive. If your combined income is too high, you may not be eligible for the PTC at all.
What should you do if you get married and receive the PTC?
If you get married and receive the PTC, you should report the marriage to the Marketplace right away. You can do this by logging into your Marketplace account or by calling the Marketplace call center.
The Marketplace will ask you for information about your spouse’s income and health insurance coverage. They will then recalculate your PTC eligibility and the amount of PTC you receive.
What happens if you don’t report your marriage to the Marketplace?
If you don’t report your marriage to the Marketplace, you may have to repay all of the PTC you received for the year.
Other Considerations
If you and your spouse have different health insurance plans, you may be able to choose the plan that is best for your family.
If you are married and file your taxes separately, you will not be eligible for the PTC.
If you have any questions about how marriage will affect your PTC, you can contact the Marketplace call center or a licensed insurance agent.
Helpful Links
[Marketplace call center](https://www.healthcare.gov/contact-us/marketplace-call-center/)
[Publication 974](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p974.pdf)
[ACA Eligibility](https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage-costs/how-to-get-coverage/find-health-coverage-private-insurance/)
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