Individuals & Families

An Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC) is money from the federal government that helps lower the cost of your health insurance. It goes straight to your insurance company each month. That means you pay less for your monthly premium.You do not have to wait until tax time to get this help. If you qualify, you can use the tax credit right away to make your plan more affordable.How APTC lowers your monthly costWhen you enroll in a plan through the Health Connector, you can choose how much of your tax credit to use each month. Here is how it works:The tax credit is sent directly to your insurance company.The credit is applied to your monthly premium.You pay less out of your own pocket.Your APTC is based on an estimateYour APTC amount is based on the income you tell us when you apply. Because it uses the income you expect to earn, it is an estimate.Real life changes, though. Your actual income for the year is often a little higher or lower than what you first reported. That is normal.Your final tax credit is set at tax timeThe government does not decide your final tax credit until you file your federal taxes for the year. That final number is based on your actual income for the whole year.When you file, the government compares two things:The amount of APTC you used during the year.The amount you actually qualified for.This comparison decides whether your advance credit was the right amount.What this means for [...]