Read by situation

Fourteen kinds of household

Each profile is a full page: the verdict at a typical income, the items that hit people in that situation, and what helps them. For your own answer, set your income on the front page.

Working parent, hourly job

Household income roughly $25,000–$55,000. One or two jobs. Kids on Medicaid or CHIP, maybe SNAP.

Employed full or part timeChildren at homeIncome under ~$55k

Adult on Medicaid, no kids at home

Single, earning under about $22,000. Part-time, gig work, seasonal, or between jobs. Covered through Medicaid expansion.

Age 19–64Part-time, gig, or unemployedMedicaid expansion coverage

Self-employed, buys own insurance

Freelancer, contractor, or small-business owner earning roughly $40,000–$120,000 with a marketplace (Obamacare) plan.

No employer coverageMarketplace planIncome $40k–$120k

Heading to college or grad school

A student (or the parent of one) planning on college, graduate, medical, law, or nursing school in the next few years.

Student or parent of a studentWill need federal aid or loansAny income

Paying off federal student loans

Earning roughly $35,000–$90,000 and repaying loans on SAVE, PAYE, IBR or ICR.

Has federal student loansOn an income-driven planWorking

Age 50–64, not yet on Medicare

Working, laid off, or retired early. Buying marketplace insurance, on Medicaid, or thinking about a parent's nursing-home care.

Age 50–64Not yet Medicare-eligibleAny income

Retired, 65 and up

On Medicare and Social Security, income roughly $20,000–$60,000. Maybe some help from Medicaid or SNAP.

Age 65+MedicareFixed income

Lives in a rural area or small town

Any income. Your county has one hospital, or none, and a lot of neighbors on Medicaid.

Rural county or small townAny incomeAny age

Living with a disability or chronic illness

Relying on Medicaid for care, medications, or home- and community-based services. Maybe SSI or SSDI.

Disability or chronic conditionMedicaid or home careAny age

Immigrant or mixed-status family

Green-card holders, refugees, asylees, TPS or DACA recipients, or U.S.-citizen kids with an immigrant parent.

Lawfully present immigrant, or citizen with immigrant familyAny income

Salaried with employer insurance

Household income roughly $75,000–$200,000. Health insurance through work. Maybe a mortgage, maybe kids.

Employer health coverageIncome $75k–$200kAny family situation

Tipped or hourly service worker

Restaurant, retail, hospitality, delivery. Earning roughly $20,000–$45,000, often with variable hours.

Tips or overtimeHourly, full or part timeIncome under ~$45k

Works in health care

Hospital, clinic, nursing home, or home health. Nurse, aide, tech, physician, or support staff.

Health-care employerAny incomeAny location

Household income over $250,000

You come out ahead on taxes. A few provisions still cost you, and others change the country you live in.

Income $250k+Likely itemizesAny family situation