If you thought you could finally celebrate making a little more money next year, hold that confetti. Because thanks to a fun twist in the tax code, 2026 might be the year your health insurance jumps out from behind the couch and yells, “Gotcha!”
Right now, Marketplace plans (hello, healthcare.gov) offer premium tax credits that help reduce your monthly payment. And for the past few years, those discounts have been pretty generous—even for higher-income households. But starting in 2026? The subsidy cliff comes back… and it’s about as friendly as a seagull trying to steal your fries.
Here’s the deal: go even one dollar over the income limit—around $58,000 for a single person—and your discount doesn’t shrink, taper, or politely excuse itself.
It disappears.
Completely.
One minute you’re paying $400 a month… the next minute it’s $700+ because you worked overtime or got a raise.
That’s right: the government basically said,
“Congrats on your success—now here’s your penalty.”
Take a 45-year-old single person making around $60,000:
All because of a couple thousand dollars of additional income.
It’s a harsh cutoff—like missing a step in the dark.
For the family businesses, reinvented careers, and entrepreneurs we serve at Calculated Moves, this isn’t just inconvenient—it’s expensive.
Your income affects more than taxes.
It impacts health insurance, eligibility, planning… everything.
And navigating these changes without strategy is like sailing straight into a storm without a compass.
Here’s the good news: smart planning gives you control.
Awareness = savings.
Even small overtime or unexpected bonuses can tip the scale.
Fully fund your:
These reduce taxable income legally and strategically.
They change.
Sometimes barely, sometimes dramatically.
Stay ahead.
Nothing about 2026 is “copy and paste” from 2025.
Things are changing—fast.
The bottom line:
A tiny income bump in 2026 could lead to a much bigger health insurance bill.
But with strategic planning—and a team who knows how to keep Uncle Sam off your back—you can avoid falling off the subsidy cliff and keep more money in your pocket.
Because you’ve got better things to do than decode government fine print, and we believe tax strategy should support your life… not complicate it.
Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Please make sure to check out our blog and our website link below. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell to be notified when we post. Email me at donna@calculatedmoves.com.
Donna Bordeaux, CPA with Calculated Moves
Creativity and CPAs don’t generally go together. Most people think of CPAs as nerdy accountants who can’t talk with people. Well, it’s time to break that stereotype. Lively, friendly, and knowledgeable can be a part of your relationship with your CPA, as demonstrated by Donna and Chad Bordeaux. They have over 50 years of combined experience as entrepreneurial CPAs. They’ve owned businesses and helped business owners exceed their wildest dreams. They have been able to help businesses earn many times more profit than the average business in the same industry and are passionate about helping industries that help families build great memories.