Ask a self-employed neighbor in Boise County about health insurance and you usually get a sigh. There is no HR department, nobody else picks the plan, and the one number the whole thing depends on, next year's income, is the one number you cannot know. This guide walks through the 2027 rules in the order you will meet them, every figure tied to an official source.
The Short Version: Key Takeaways
- Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs October 15 through December 15, 2026 (Idaho Department of Insurance). A plan chosen in that window starts January 1, 2027.
- The credit follows income you expect to earn, not last year's. It is available from 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level, and the 2027 expected contribution runs from 2.15% to 10.22% of income (IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26).
- The 400% limit is back. For one adult that is $63,840 of household income for 2027 coverage, and over it there is no credit.
- Guessing wrong now costs more. For tax years after 2025 there is no cap on repaying extra advance credit (IRS), so a careful estimate matters.
- The self-employed health insurance deduction is a separate tax benefit claimed on your return, and it interacts with the credit. Your tax professional should model both (IRS Form 7206 instructions).
- Seven carriers sell individual plans in Idaho for 2027, and PacificSource is not one of them (Idaho DOI).
Self-employed and not sure what to put for 2027 income?
Send us last year's net profit and what has changed. We build a range, show you what each end of it does to your credit, and help you pick a number you can live with.
Call or text 208-350-9933 Send us a messageWho This Affects in Boise County
Self-employment is a bigger part of local work than it is in the Boise valley. The Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey counts workers who run their own unincorporated business, which captures sole proprietors, many contractors, ranchers and tradespeople. Owners of incorporated businesses are counted elsewhere, so the true share of people who work for themselves is higher than these figures.
| Measure (ACS 2023, 5-year) | Boise County | Ada County |
|---|---|---|
| Employed civilians age 16 and over | 3,536 | 261,377 |
| Self-employed in own unincorporated business | 314 | 17,800 |
| Share of employed workers | 8.9% | 6.8% |
| Population with no health insurance | 11.2% | 6.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 5-year Data Profile DP03, Boise County and Ada County, pulled November 12, 2026.
About 8.9% of Boise County's employed workers run their own unincorporated business, against 6.8% in Ada County, and 11.2% of residents have no health coverage, against 6.7% next door.
This page is written for sole proprietors, partners, contractors, ranchers and small-business owners under 65 who buy their own coverage through the ACA marketplace. If you are 65 or older, see our Boise County page for Medicare.
The Dates That Matter
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 15, 2026 | Open enrollment for 2027 coverage begins |
| December 15, 2026 | Open enrollment ends; federal rules require every marketplace to stay open through at least this date |
| January 1, 2027 | Coverage chosen in the window starts |
| After December 15 | You generally need a qualifying life event for a special enrollment period, usually 60 days |
Source: Idaho Department of Insurance, final 2027 premium rates (October 6, 2026) and 45 CFR 155.410. See our answer on when ACA open enrollment starts and ends.
For self-employed people the practical date is earlier than December 15. A plan with a new carrier is not active until the first premium is paid, and your income estimate deserves a look at your books, not a late-night guess. I tell clients to aim for the end of November. If you miss it, the qualifying event finder shows which life events reopen enrollment, and our special enrollment guide explains the rest.
Who Sells Plans for 2027
The Idaho Department of Insurance lists seven individual-market carriers for 2027, and the average final rate change is 12% before any tax credit. The department also reports that Idaho's reinsurance waiver lowers 2027 premiums by about 16%, down from 18% in 2026. Each carrier moved by a different amount, so renewing "the same plan" can quietly cost more.
| Carrier | Average final 2027 rate change |
|---|---|
| Blue Cross of Idaho Health Service | 11% |
| Moda Health Plan, Inc. | 23% |
| Molina Healthcare | 13% |
| Mountain Health CO-OP | 19% |
| Regence BlueShield of Idaho | 9% |
| SelectHealth | 9% |
| St. Luke's Health Plan, Inc. | 14% |
| Statewide average | 12% |
Source: Idaho Department of Insurance, Idaho Rate Review Individual, 2027 summary (overall final rate change before tax credits), accessed October 26, 2026. Your own price depends on age, county, plan and tax credit.
If you had a PacificSource plan, it is not on the 2027 list, and you need a new one. We wrote up what PacificSource members should do. For everyone else, the question is which network includes your doctors, which drug list includes your prescriptions, and what you would really pay in a bad year. A narrow network can suit a healthy person near its hospitals and fail a family that drives to Boise for specialists. Our complete Idaho ACA guide walks through the carriers and metal levels.
How the Premium Tax Credit Works in 2027
The credit fills the gap between two numbers. The first is the price of the benchmark plan, the second-lowest-cost Silver plan available where you live. The second is your expected contribution, which is your household income multiplied by a percentage the IRS publishes each year. If the benchmark costs more than your expected contribution, the difference is your credit, and you can apply it to any metal level.
Two changes shape 2027. The temporary enhanced credits that ran from 2021 through 2025 are gone, so the 400% of poverty limit is back (IRS). And the expected-contribution percentages are slightly higher than for 2026. Here is the 2027 table.
| Household income as a share of the poverty level | Starts at | Ends at |
|---|---|---|
| Under 133% of the poverty level | 2.15% | 2.15% |
| 133% to under 150% | 3.23% | 4.3% |
| 150% to under 200% | 4.3% | 6.78% |
| 200% to under 250% | 6.78% | 8.66% |
| 250% to under 300% | 8.66% | 10.22% |
| 300% to 400% | 10.22% | 10.22% |
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26, section 3.01 (applicable percentage table for taxable years beginning in 2027). Within each range the percentage rises steadily with income.
The most of your income you are expected to pay for the benchmark plan, 2027
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26, section 3.01. Bars show the top of each range; the table above gives the starting percentage.
Where does each household cross 400%? Coverage for 2027 uses the 2026 poverty guidelines, so the cutoffs below follow from those. They are our arithmetic on the published figures, shown so you can see how near your own income sits to the line.
| People in household | 100% (lower limit) | 400% (upper limit) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $132,000 |
Source: HHS ASPE, 2026 poverty guidelines, 48 contiguous states; 400% is our multiplication. Marketplace savings use the prior year's guidelines. Each additional person adds $5,680.
Here is what the table means in dollars for a single adult. Using only the bands where the percentage does not slide, the expected contribution is simply income times the percentage.
| Household income | Share of poverty level | Expected contribution | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | 125% | 2.15% = $430 a year | $36 |
| $50,000 | 313% | 10.22% = $5,110 a year | $426 |
| $62,000 | 388% | 10.22% = $6,336 a year | $528 |
| $64,000 | 401% | Above 400%: no credit | Full premium |
Source: our arithmetic from IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26 and HHS ASPE 2026 poverty guidelines. The expected contribution is what the benchmark plan would cost you; your real premium depends on the plan you choose and the benchmark price in your county.
The last two rows are the point. An income of $62,000 and an income of $64,000 differ by $2,000, and the second household loses the credit entirely. If your best estimate sits near that line, plan around it with a tax professional before December 31, not after.
Estimating Self-Employed Income for the Credit
The IRS defines household income for the credit as modified adjusted gross income, which is the adjusted gross income on your federal return plus excluded foreign income, nontaxable Social Security benefits and tax-exempt interest, added up across the family members who must file (IRS Q&A 8). For a business owner the starting point is not revenue. It is what is left after business expenses, which the IRS reports as net profit.
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Net profit from your business (Schedule C, Schedule F or partnership income) | The usual starting point for your adjusted gross income |
| Other income: wages, rental, interest, a spouse's earnings | Household income counts everyone who must file with you |
| Nontaxable Social Security benefits and tax-exempt interest | Added back into modified adjusted gross income |
| Adjustments to income, including the self-employed health insurance deduction | These lower adjusted gross income, which is why your tax professional should run the numbers |
| Seasonal swings and one-time jobs | The credit is figured on the whole year, so an uneven year needs a range, not a single number |
Source: IRS, Questions and answers on the premium tax credit (Q8, household income) and Instructions for Form 7206 (deduction reported on Schedule 1, line 17), accessed November 12, 2026.
My practical advice has three parts. Start with last year's actual numbers, not your hopes. Adjust for what has changed: a big contract ended, a partner left. Then pick a number in the middle of your range and write down how you got it. If income lands far from it, update the estimate while the year is still open.
Let's put your numbers next to the 2027 plans
We compare the plans we represent in Boise County for your doctors, your prescriptions and your income range, then complete your enrollment with you over Zoom or the phone.
Call or text 208-350-9933 Send us a messageThe Self-Employed Health Insurance Deduction
Separate from the credit, the tax code lets many self-employed people deduct the health insurance they pay for. The IRS instructions for Form 7206 say you may be able to deduct what you paid for medical, dental and vision insurance for yourself, your spouse and your dependents, and for a child who was under 27 at year end. You report it on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 17.
| Situation | What the IRS instructions require |
|---|---|
| Sole proprietor (Schedule C) or farmer (Schedule F) | A net profit for the year; the policy can be in the business's name or yours |
| Partner | Net earnings from self-employment on Schedule K-1; the policy can be in the partnership's name or yours, with the partnership reimbursing or paying and reporting it as a guaranteed payment |
| More-than-2% S corporation shareholder | Wages from the S corporation; the corporation pays or reimburses the premiums and reports them as W-2 wages |
| Any of the above, in a month you could join an employer-subsidized plan | Premiums for any month you were eligible for a plan subsidized by your or your spouse's employer do not count |
| You bought through the marketplace and also take the credit | The instructions point to IRS Publication 974 for how the two interact |
Source: IRS, Instructions for Form 7206 (2025) and About Form 7206, accessed November 12, 2026. Check the current instructions for 2027.
The reason this belongs in a plan-shopping article is the interaction. A bigger deduction lowers your adjusted gross income, which changes the credit, which changes the premium you pay, which feeds back into the deduction. The IRS points to Publication 974 for that loop, and it is a task for the person preparing your return. I am a licensed agent, not a tax advisor, so treat this section as a map of questions to ask.
Bronze, Silver or Gold on a Variable Income
The metal level you pick decides how premium and out-of-pocket cost trade off. A Bronze plan costs less each month and more when you use care. A Gold plan is the reverse. Silver sits in the middle and has one special feature: it is the only level that can carry cost-sharing reductions, which lower your deductible and copays when your income is low enough. For 2027, CMS sets the ceilings below.
| Who | Most you can be asked to pay in a year for covered in-network care |
|---|---|
| Any plan, one person | $12,000 |
| Any plan, family | $24,000 |
| Silver plan, income 100% to 200% of poverty | $4,000 |
| Silver plan, income above 200% up to 250% of poverty | $9,600 |
Source: CMS, 2027 Payment Notice parameters guidance. The 2027 self-only limit is up about 13.2% from $10,600 in 2026. Actual plan limits can be lower than these ceilings.
How do you choose? Start with how you use care. A healthy person with a financial cushion may do well with a Bronze plan. Someone with a chronic condition, regular prescriptions or a surgery on the horizon usually does better with Silver or Gold, because they will hit the deductible anyway. A self-employed household with income between 100% and 250% of poverty should look closely at Silver, since the cost-sharing reductions can be worth more than the premium difference. And because a credit applies to any metal level, a tight budget is not a reason to skip the comparison. For the full picture, see our metal levels guide and the premium tax credit guide.
If Your Estimate Turns Out Wrong
Most people take the credit in advance: the marketplace estimates it from your projected income and pays it to your insurer each month. When you file, you complete Form 8962 and reconcile what was paid against what you actually qualify for (IRS). That reconciliation is where a bad estimate shows up.
| If your income finishes | What generally happens at tax time |
|---|---|
| Close to your estimate | The advance credit and the allowed credit are about equal |
| Lower than your estimate | You may qualify for more credit than was paid in advance and receive the difference as a refund |
| Higher than your estimate, still under 400% | The allowed credit is smaller; for tax years after 2025 there is no repayment cap, so you may owe back the full difference |
| Higher than 400% of the poverty level | No credit is allowed, and advance payments may have to be repaid in full |
Source: IRS, Questions and answers on the premium tax credit (updated February 19, 2026), accessed November 12, 2026. Individual results depend on the full return.
The protection is a habit: update your estimate when your income changes, not at the end of the year. If a big job lands in June, tell the marketplace in June. If you lose a major client, lower the estimate and let the credit grow. A marriage, a move or a new baby may also open a special enrollment window.
Your Pre-Enrollment Checklist
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Income range | Write a low, middle and high estimate of 2027 net income for the household |
| 2. Poverty-line check | Compare each estimate with the 100% and 400% lines in the table above |
| 3. Doctors and hospitals | List every provider you want to keep, including specialists and the nearest hospital |
| 4. Prescriptions | List each drug with its dose, so we can check the 2027 drug lists |
| 5. Tax professional | Ask how the health insurance deduction and the credit interact for your return |
| 6. Decide by the end of November | Leave time for the first payment before December 15 |
Source: Personal Touch's checklist, built from the IRS premium tax credit Q&A and the Idaho Department of Insurance enrollment dates.
That is the list I would hand a neighbor across a kitchen table. The rest is comparison, which we do for you. We check that your doctors are in network for 2027, estimate your tax credit, and complete your enrollment on Zoom or the phone. If you would rather sit down together, our Idaho City office is open by appointment.
What to Watch This Fall
- Your renewal notice. If your plan renews on its own, check the new premium and the network before you let it.
- Income changes. A new contract, a lost client or a spouse changing jobs is a reason to update the estimate.
- The December 15 deadline. After it, you generally need a qualifying event to change plans.
- The 400% line. If your best estimate sits near it, talk with your tax professional before year end.
- Tax rules for 2027. We refresh this page when the IRS or CMS update these figures.
How We Built This Page
The credit percentages come from IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26, the poverty guidelines from HHS ASPE, and the out-of-pocket limits from the CMS 2027 parameters guidance. Dates, carriers and rate changes come from the Idaho Department of Insurance, and local figures from the Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey profile DP03, pulled November 12, 2026. The 400% cutoffs and the dollar illustration are our arithmetic on published figures.
Limits: the carrier and rate table was last checked October 26, 2026, and we did not check which carriers sell in each Boise County ZIP code or which doctors each network includes; we do that with you. This page is general education, not tax, legal or individual insurance advice, and it promises no particular credit or premium. Personal Touch Ins. & Benefits, LLC represents a defined set of carriers and plans, and compares those for you at no cost. Call or text 208-350-9933, or send us a message.
CarrieAnne
Want your 2027 credit estimated for your own business income?
Tell us your household, your best estimate of 2027 net income, your doctors and your prescriptions. We compare the 2027 plans in Boise County, show you what you would pay, and complete your enrollment with you, at no cost to you.
Call or text 208-350-9933 Send us a messageFrequently Asked Questions
Can I deduct my health insurance premiums if I am self-employed?
Often, yes. The IRS says you may be able to deduct what you paid for medical, dental and vision insurance for yourself, your spouse and your dependents, claimed on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 17. You generally need a net profit from the business, and you cannot count any month you were eligible for a health plan subsidized by your or your spouse's employer. If you also take the premium tax credit, the IRS points to Publication 974 for how the two fit together. Ask your tax professional about your own return. Call or text Personal Touch at 208-350-9933.
Does my self-employment income count toward the premium tax credit?
Yes. The credit is based on your household income, which the IRS defines as the modified adjusted gross income on your return plus that of others in your family who must file. For 2027 coverage, a credit is available between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, and the share of income you are expected to pay for the benchmark plan runs from 2.15% to 10.22%. Our licensed agents at Personal Touch compare the plans and enroll you at no cost. Call or text 208-350-9933.
What happens if I guess my 2027 income wrong?
You reconcile on Form 8962 when you file. For tax years after 2025 there is no cap on repaying extra advance credit, so a low estimate that turns out wrong can mean owing the full difference, and income above 400% of the poverty level means no credit at all. A high estimate means you get the remaining credit as a refund. Update your estimate when your income changes during the year. Call or text Personal Touch at 208-350-9933.
When is open enrollment for 2027 coverage in Idaho?
Open enrollment for coverage starting January 1, 2027 runs from October 15 through December 15, 2026, according to the Idaho Department of Insurance. After December 15 you generally need a qualifying life event to change plans. Call or text Personal Touch at 208-350-9933.
Which carriers sell ACA marketplace plans in Idaho for 2027?
The Idaho Department of Insurance lists seven individual-market carriers for 2027: Blue Cross of Idaho, Moda Health, Molina Healthcare, Mountain Health CO-OP, Regence BlueShield of Idaho, SelectHealth and St. Luke's Health Plan. PacificSource Health Plans is not on the 2027 list. We check which sell in Boise County and cover your doctors. Call or text 208-350-9933.
Does it cost me anything to have Personal Touch help me enroll?
No. Our help is free, and your premium is the same whether you enroll with us or on your own. We compare plans, estimate your credit and enroll you by Zoom or phone. Call or text 208-350-9933.
Keep Reading
Sources
- IRS, Rev. Proc. 2026-26 (2027 applicable percentage table and required contribution percentage), accessed November 12, 2026
- IRS, Questions and answers on the premium tax credit (household income, repayment, Form 8962), accessed November 12, 2026
- IRS, Instructions for Form 7206, Self-Employed Health Insurance Deduction, accessed November 12, 2026
- IRS, About Form 7206, accessed November 12, 2026
- HHS ASPE, 2026 poverty guidelines (used for 2027 marketplace coverage), accessed November 12, 2026
- CMS, 2027 Payment Notice parameters guidance (maximum annual limitation on cost sharing), accessed November 12, 2026
- Idaho Department of Insurance, 2027 individual ACA rate review (carriers and final rate changes), accessed November 12, 2026
- Idaho Department of Insurance news release, final 2027 premium rates (October 6, 2026), accessed November 12, 2026
- 45 CFR 155.410, initial and annual open enrollment periods, accessed November 12, 2026
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 5-year Data Profile DP03, Boise County, Idaho, accessed November 12, 2026
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 5-year Data Profile DP03, Ada County, Idaho, accessed November 12, 2026
Figures are labelled with the year they apply to and were checked against the official sources above on the date shown. This page is general education, not individual advice. Personal Touch Ins. & Benefits, LLC is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.