loophole for qualifying for MarketPlace coverage with $0 income?

30 year old; single; male; no health conditions or disabilities; living in Florida

I will be starting graduate school (that requires health insurance coverage) and completely out of work ($0 income) for the next 3 years. I will be taking out federal loans to cover the cost of tuition and be living on savings in the meantime. I am trying to qualify for less expensive coverage because the school I am attending offers insurance for $350/month as the cheapest option.

I am reading that I can say someone is helping me with rent/food expenses and put that as 'other income' on my Marketplace insurance application. As long as that amount of financial 'help' is above the FPL then I will qualify for Marketplace insurance at a reduced rate (possibly free with tax credits). I am assuming that that 'gift' would need to be shown as income on my return and therefore taxed. I am also reading that as long as that 'help' or 'gift' is less than $17,000 then the gifter does not need to show it on their taxes.

Is this a loophole to qualify for lower insurance cost? I say I received $16,000 in financial help, pay taxes on that $16,000, then am able to put that as my 'other income' on my Marketplace application, and since it is less than $17,000, the 'gifter' does not have to pay taxes. Please correct me if I'm wrong, just trying to legally have cheaper health insurance while I won't be working.

submitted by /u/ReardenSt33l
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