Explainer
Do green card holders keep Marketplace subsidies in 2027?
Yes — the 2027 subsidy restriction does not apply to lawful permanent residents. Green card holders keep premium tax credit eligibility under the same income rules as before, with one income-related exception that already took effect in 2026. Here is exactly what the law says.
The short answer
Yes. Starting January 1, 2027, federal law limits Marketplace subsidies — the premium tax credit and cost-sharing reductions — to U.S. citizens and three categories of non-citizens, and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) are the first category on that list, alongside certain Cuban and Haitian entrants and COFA residents. A green card holder's subsidy eligibility continues under the same income rules as before. There is no new status paperwork to file because of the 2027 change — the Marketplace verifies immigration status the same way it always has.
What is NOT happening
Three things this law does not do to green card holders:
- It does not remove or reduce their subsidies. The 2027 restriction is written around statuses it excludes — and a green card is explicitly on the keep-eligibility side of the line.
- It does not create a re-application or re-verification requirement. Renewing coverage for 2027 works the same way as any other year.
- It is not connected to the public charge rule. Receiving a premium tax credit and the public charge test are separate questions — we cover public charge on its own page.
One exception that already happened — and it is about income, not the green card
Since January 1, 2026, a separate provision (§71302 of the same law) removed subsidies for lawfully present people with household income under 100% of the federal poverty level who cannot get Medicaid because of their immigration status. This can reach a green card holder too: most states apply a five-year waiting period before a new permanent resident can enroll in Medicaid. A green card holder inside that waiting period, with income under 100% FPL, lost subsidy eligibility in 2026 — not because of the green card, but because of the income rule. Above 100% FPL, the normal income-based subsidy rules apply unchanged.
Who keeps subsidies under the 2027 rule
| Status | After January 1, 2027 |
|---|---|
| U.S. citizen | Keeps subsidy eligibility — nothing changes |
| Green card holder (LPR) | Keeps subsidy eligibility (income rules apply, including the 2026 under-100%-FPL change) |
| Cuban / Haitian entrant | Keeps subsidy eligibility |
| COFA resident (Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau) | Keeps subsidy eligibility |
| Refugee, asylee, TPS, parole, work visa | Loses subsidy; can still buy at full price — covered on our main 2027 page |
✓ Public Law 119-21, §71301 (statute text) · 2025 — reviewed 2026-08-10
The dates that matter
- January 1, 2026 — already in force: the under-100%-FPL rule described above.
- November 1, 2026 — open enrollment for 2027 plans begins. For a green card holder this window works the same way as before.
- January 1, 2027 — the status-based restriction takes effect for other categories; green card holders' eligibility continues.
✓ Public Law 119-21, §71301 (statute text) · 2025 — reviewed 2026-08-10
What people typically look at
- Their household income relative to the federal poverty level — for green card holders, income remains the variable that decides the subsidy amount, not the 2027 status change.
- Whether anyone in the household is inside the five-year Medicaid waiting period with income near 100% FPL — that is where the 2026 change can matter.
- How family members with other statuses are affected — in mixed-status households, each person's eligibility is assessed individually, and subsidy loss for one member does not remove it for another.
You can see how these options map to your own situation, without entering your name or immigration details: [Open the Health Coverage Map →]
This page explains federal rules in plain language. It is education, not a recommendation, and not legal or immigration advice.