Premium tax credit eligibility

So I started a new job recently and since I’m no longer eligible as part of my family’s insurance plan, I need to enroll in health insurance.

New employer (I work via a staffing agency) offers coverage but the premium seems exorbitant for the level of coverage.

So, I filled out an application on the Healthcare.gov marketplace and looked at some plans there. Pretty similar to what my agency offers coverage-wise (and a tad pricier without the tax credit) but my application says I’m eligible for the premium tax credit, which would massively reduce my insurance cost and save me over $250 a month.

I’m 26, healthy, and have negligible health care costs but I don’t want to be uninsured.

Honestly I’m surprised I’m eligible for the tax credit (seems too good to be true) even though my employer offers coverage. But I checked the box on my application declaring that my employer offers coverage that meets the minimum requirements (usually after which one would not be eligible for the credit) and my application still says I’m eligible for the premium tax credit. Could it be because I wasn’t working for the early part of this year and thus my annual income is substantially lower than my current monthly income?

submitted by /u/ElysianRepublic
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