Questions, and where the numbers come from
CliffFit is for self-employed people, early retirees (55 to 64) and families without job-based coverage who buy their own HealthCare.gov plan and earn near 400% of the poverty line. Here is everything it checks against.
The questions
Is there still a subsidy cliff in 2027?
Yes, under current law. The enhanced credits expired at the end of 2025 and no extension has passed the Senate, so for 2027 a household over 400% of the poverty line gets no premium tax credit. If Congress changes that, CliffFit updates its math.
Where are the plan prices from?
From CMS's public plan files for the states that use HealthCare.gov, reloaded when CMS posts them. If your state runs its own exchange (like California or New York), you type in your benchmark premium and CliffFit does the rest.
Why monthly and not a one-off?
Choosing a plan is one moment, but the credit is settled on your actual income for the whole year, and repayment caps are gone. The monthly check-in catches a bonus, a capital gain or a good quarter before it pushes you over.
Is this tax or insurance advice?
No. It's an educational estimate from public data. We don't sell insurance or enroll you; confirm with HealthCare.gov, your state exchange, a licensed agent or a tax professional.
What moves does it consider?
Pre-tax 401k and solo 401k, traditional IRA, SEP-IRA and HSA contributions (every 2026+ Bronze plan is HSA-eligible), with their legal limits. It also flags things that raise MAGI, like Roth conversions and capital gains.
How is "expected yearly cost" worked out?
Twelve months of the premium after your credit, plus a likely out-of-pocket amount from each plan's own deductible, copays, coinsurance and out-of-pocket maximum (from the CMS file) at the care level you choose: low, medium or high. It is an estimate to compare plans, not a promise of what you'll pay.
What does the free cliff check include, and what's in the $9 plan?
The cliff check is free for every account: your % of the poverty line, your distance from the line, and the move. Your first 7 days include everything, with no card. After that, every plan priced and ranked, the monthly check-in and the warning emails are $9 a month. Cancel any time.
The 2027 line, by household size
400% of the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines, which set 2027 credits. Income one dollar above the line means no premium tax credit.
| Household | 48 states and DC | Alaska | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $63,840 | $79,800 | $73,440 |
| 2 people | $86,560 | $108,200 | $99,560 |
| 3 people | $109,280 | $136,600 | $125,680 |
| 4 people | $132,000 | $165,000 | $151,800 |
| 5 people | $154,720 | $193,400 | $177,920 |
The share of income you're expected to pay (2027)
From IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26. Within a band the percentage rises evenly; your credit is the benchmark premium minus this share of your income.
| Income, % of the poverty line | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Under 133% | 2.15% | 2.15% |
| 133% to under 150% | 3.23% | 4.30% |
| 150% to under 200% | 4.30% | 6.78% |
| 200% to under 250% | 6.78% | 8.66% |
| 250% to under 300% | 8.66% | 10.22% |
| 300% to 400% | 10.22% | 10.22% |
| Over 400% | no credit | |
Where the numbers come from
- Plans and prices: CMS's QHP Landscape file for plan year 2027 (individual medical), for the states that use HealthCare.gov: every plan sold in each county, its premiums by age, deductible, out-of-pocket maximum and copays. CliffFit reloads it when CMS posts a new file and checks its own benchmark in every county against an independent CC0 dataset built from the same CMS files before the year goes live.
- The benchmark: the second-lowest-cost Silver plan for your household, using the part of the premium that covers essential health benefits, as Form 8962 does.
- Ages: premiums at the file's own ages, and the federal default age curve in between.
- Poverty line: the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines (91 FR 1797): $15,960 for one person plus $5,680 for each additional person in the 48 states and DC.
- Percentages: IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26.
- Contribution limits: 2027 HSA limits ($4,500 self-only, $9,000 family, $1,000 more at 55) from IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-24; 401k, IRA and SEP limits from the IRS's 2026 figures until the IRS posts 2027's.
- Tobacco: CMS's landscape file shows non-tobacco premiums. A tobacco surcharge isn't covered by the credit.
States with their own exchange
CMS's files don't include plans in California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. There you type your benchmark premium from your state's exchange and get the same cliff math, the move and the monthly check-in.
What CliffFit is not
Not tax, legal or insurance advice. We don't sell insurance, enroll anyone or take commissions. Confirm your numbers with HealthCare.gov, your state exchange, a licensed agent or a tax professional.