ACA vs Medicaid — which do I qualify for?
If your household income is at or below your state's Medicaid limit you generally qualify for Medicaid instead of a subsidized Marketplace plan; if your income is above that limit you likely qualify for a Marketplace plan with a Premium Tax Credit, according to HealthCare.gov (2026), and the exact cut-off depends on whether your state expanded Medicaid.
More on this topic: subsidies and costs
What the government has said, on the record
Here's how a federal official described it, on the record:
“Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide free or low-cost health coverage to eligible low-income adults, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.”
— Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (HealthCare.gov), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services), HealthCare.gov, Getting Medicaid & CHIP (source)
Editor's note: From official HealthCare.gov (CMS) consumer guidance. Rules and figures can change by plan year — confirm current details at HealthCare.gov.
Who said this
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (HealthCare.gov) · Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
Also asked as
- Do I qualify for Medicaid or Obamacare?
Sources
Last verified: 2026-07-19