Characteristics of Those Eligible for Cost-Sharing Reductions and Premium Tax Credits Under the Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act provides financial assistance via cost sharing reductions (CSR) and premium tax credits to help modest income individuals purchase health insurance and reduce the direct costs of their care. This brief estimates the characteristics of the CSR eligible population using the Urban Institute’s Health Insurance Policy Simulation Model. Researchers found that the CSR eligible individuals are most likely to live in the South, to be single adults without children, and to be White, non-Hispanic. Researchers also estimate the average value of a CSR to be $479 in 2016, with the value varying by the eligible person’s income.