I'm unemployed right now. How do I estimate my income?

If you're currently unemployed or your work hours have been reduced, you may be wondering what to enter for your income when applying for health insurance.

When you apply for Marketplace coverage, you generally need to estimate your total household income for the entire year you're applying for coverage — not just what you're earning right now.

What if I don't have a job right now?

If you expect to earn income later in the year, include the income you reasonably expect to receive when estimating your annual household income.

For example, if you're unemployed now but expect to return to work later in the year, your estimate should include the income you expect to earn once you return to work.

If you don't expect to have additional income, your estimate should reflect what you reasonably expect your total household income to be for the year.

You may need to include income from sources such as:

• Wages or salary
• Self-employment or gig work
• Unemployment benefits
• Investment income
• Certain retirement income
• Other taxable income

What if my income changes during the year?

That's okay. Your Marketplace application is based on an estimate, and your actual income may be different.

If your income changes significantly, update your Marketplace application as soon as possible. A change in income could affect the amount of financial assistance you're eligible to receive.

It's especially important to keep your income estimate up to date if you're receiving a premium tax credit (APTC). The amount of APTC you receive during the year is based on your estimated annual household income, and the final amount you're eligible for is determined when you file your federal tax return.

What if my income is very low?

Depending on where you live, your household income and other factors, you may qualify for Medicaid or another state program instead of Marketplace financial assistance.

Medicaid eligibility rules vary by state, so there's no single income amount that applies nationwide.

If you're not sure what to enter, you can still complete the Marketplace application using your best estimate. The application will use your household information to determine what coverage and financial assistance you may qualify for.

Don't intentionally overestimate or underestimate your income just to qualify for a particular type of coverage or amount of financial assistance. Use the information you reasonably expect to be accurate based on what you know today.