The federal poverty level is an income figure published every January by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is not a measure of what living costs in New York City. It is an administrative number, and almost every health program here is written as a percentage of it.
For 2026 in the 48 contiguous states, 100% of the federal poverty level is $15,960 for a household of one, plus $5,680 for each additional person. A household of four is $33,000.
That means the thresholds you actually deal with are multiples:
| Program | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Medicaid, most working-age adults | about 138% FPL |
| Essential Plan | 200% FPL |
| Hospital financial assistance, no out-of-pocket | 200% FPL |
| Hospital charges capped at 10% of Medicaid rate | 201–300% FPL |
| NYC Care sliding scale | 201–400% FPL |
What people get wrong: the number is national. A salary that reads as comfortable relative to the poverty line can still be tight in this city, and the programs do not adjust for that. It is also annual and household-based — a good month projected across twelve is the most common way people talk themselves out of coverage they qualify for.
Check where your household lands with our estimator.
Also called: FPL, poverty guidelines, poverty line. Reference: Federal poverty level (FPL) on Wikipedia — general definition, not New York specifics.
More in Glossary of health coverage and billing terms
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- Charity care — The hospital financial assistance every New York hospital is legally required to run.
- EMTALA — The federal law requiring emergency rooms to screen and stabilize anyone, regardless of insurance or status.
This page explains how the system works. It is not medical advice. More.