The only way you can ever receive the Premium Tax Credit subsidy to lower your health insurance premium, either on a monthly basis or when you file your federal or state tax return, is to enroll in a health plan through Covered California. The subsidy can be a form of income protection. In the event that the household has a sudden drop of income in the middle of the year, the Covered California application can be updated with the lower income amount and trigger the subsidy to lower the health insurance premium.
