Do I Qualify for Free or Low-Cost Health Coverage?

No. This is a quick, private guide that points you to the programs you may qualify for and how to apply. It is not an official determination, only your state Medicaid agency or the Marketplace can decide. Eligibility rules and income limits vary by state and change every year, so always confirm with the official source before relying on a result.

Based on a few answers, it points you toward Medicaid, CHIP (for children), subsidized ACA Marketplace coverage (with a directional subsidy estimate), catastrophic plans if you are under 30, staying on a parent's plan if you are under 26, Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help (for people on Medicare), VA health care (for veterans), and how a job-based coverage offer affects your subsidy. If none of those fit, it points you to hospital charity care and county programs, and it flags when an existing hospital bill might be covered by Medicaid retroactively.

The premium tax credit caps what you pay for a benchmark (mid-level silver) plan at a set percentage of your income, on a sliding scale that runs from about 2% of income near the poverty line up to roughly 10% around 400% of the poverty line. That percentage is based on income alone, so we can estimate your monthly cap in dollars right from what you enter. Your exact plan price also depends on your age and where you live, which is what the official calculator confirms. Note: the enhanced subsidies expired at the end of 2025, so for 2026 the 400% poverty-line cliff is back (above it, subsidies stop), and Congress could still change this. It is a strong estimate, not an official quote.

Yes, and the screener accounts for each. Veterans may qualify for VA health care (a separate system worth checking). If you are under 26 you can stay on a parent's plan, and students should compare a school plan against a subsidized Marketplace plan. If you are offered "affordable" job-based coverage you usually cannot get Marketplace subsidies for yourself, but since 2023 your family may still qualify if the family cost is too high (the "family glitch" fix).

Maybe not for regular Medicaid, and it is important to be honest about that. In states that did not expand Medicaid, childless adults are generally not eligible, and parents lose coverage at very low incomes. If your income is also below where Marketplace subsidies begin (100% of the poverty line), you may fall in the "coverage gap." If so, the tool points you to your real backstops: hospital charity care, county indigent-care programs, and Emergency Medicaid.

Yes, and the screener handles this carefully and privately (nothing is saved). Lawfully present immigrants (green-card holders, refugees, asylees, and many visa holders) can use the Marketplace right away, though Medicaid often has a 5-year wait that many states waive for children and pregnant people. Undocumented immigrants cannot get federal Medicaid or Marketplace plans, but Emergency Medicaid, some state-funded programs, and hospital charity care are still available. Very important: using Medicaid, CHIP, or Marketplace coverage does not count against you or a family member under the current public charge rule, especially for children and pregnant people. DACA rules changed recently and are being litigated, so for that we point you to a navigator or legal-aid group. When in doubt, a free navigator can help you privately.

Possibly, and this is often missed. Medicaid can pay for care you received up to 3 months before you applied (retroactive eligibility) in most states. So if you get a big bill and then qualify for Medicaid, it may cover the bill you already have. If you send us the bill, we check for coverage like this and negotiate down whatever is left.

Yes. Free, trained "navigators" and enrollment assisters can help you apply at no cost, find one at LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov, or ask your local hospital or community health center. Funding for this help has been cut recently, so it can be harder to reach, but it is still worth using.

The screener and the guides are free. CareRoute makes money on Bill Defense, where we review and negotiate medical bills you already have, and you only pay if we save you money. We do not charge you to apply for coverage.