Health Care, Taxes, and You: If I can’t afford health insurance through my job, what are my options?

If you don’t qualify for Medicaid and can’t afford a plan offered by your employer, signing up for health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace may be your next best option. Lucky for you the next Open Enrollment period begins on November 15, 2014 and will last until February 15, 2015.

There are a number of different plans offered in the Marketplace, and you may qualify to get financial help to pay for coverage, care, or both if your share of insurance premiums you pay is more than 9.5% of your family’s income.

Based on your household income and family size, you may be eligible for a premium tax credit, which is financial assistance from the government to help you pay for your monthly health insurance premiums.

For example, you may qualify for lower premiums on a Marketplace insurance plan if your yearly income is between $11,670 and $46,680 ($23,850 – $95,400 for a family of four).

To see if you’re eligible for a tax credit, you can use our free health care calculator. You can find out more about how to balance health care costs with your needs here.