Does income affect who can get health coverage?

Short answer: Income doesn’t affect eligibility for employer or unsubsidized individual plans, but it determines eligibility for ACA premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, and Medicaid/CHIP.

Employer group coverage and unsubsidized individual coverage have no income test; anyone eligible can enroll regardless of earnings. Income matters only for assistance: it sets eligibility for ACA premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions on the marketplace, and for Medicaid or CHIP. So while income never blocks you from buying coverage, it can determine how much help you get paying for it.

Sources