You’ve got health insurance through your job, but your spouse and kids aren’t covered affordably—and you’re told you don’t qualify for a subsidy. What gives?

You might be stuck in what’s called the “family glitch.”

What Is the Family Glitch? The “family glitch” used to mean that if the employee-only coverage through your job was considered affordable by government standards (less than about 9% of your household income), then no one in the family qualified for Marketplace subsidies—even if the family coverage was unaffordable.

The good news? That rule changed in 2023.

Now, if the cost to cover the entire family through your job is more than 9% of your household income, your spouse and kids may qualify for a subsidy through the Marketplace—even if you (the employee) don’t.

Still, confusion around how employers report affordability and what’s actually available means this glitch continues to impact families in ways like:

• Spouses left uninsured

• Kids priced out of employer plans

• Dual-income households with mismatched employer offers

What Can You Do About It? If you’re dealing with unaffordable family coverage, there are smart workarounds:

✅ See if Your Kids Qualify for Florida KidCare Many families can insure their children for $0–$20/month. Read more about Florida KidCare here.

✅ Explore Private Plans We offer private PPO options that may be a better fit than high-cost employer coverage. (link self employed plans)

✅ Estimate Carefully for Subsidy Eligibility Your spouse and kids may now qualify for help. Use our Marketplace Income Accuracy Guide to learn how income affects eligibility. (link)

✅ Work with an Expert We can help analyze your employer’s affordability offer and determine who qualifies for what.

Why It Matters Health insurance should work for the whole family—not just the employee.

If you’ve been told “you don’t qualify” for help, it might be time for a second look.

We specialize in navigating complex cases like this—and we’d love to help you understand your real options.

Reach out today. Your family deserves better.

#simplyforyourbenefit