I want to add my spouse and/or children to my employer-sponsored plan but I can’t afford the family premium. Can my spouse buy a more affordable plan on the health insurance marketplace?

It depends. If the premium for self-only coverage in the lowest cost plan offered by your employer is less than 9.86 percent of your household income in 2019, no one in your family who is eligible to join your employer’s plan can qualify for a premium tax credit, no matter how expensive the premiums are for a family plan. Your children may, however, be eligible for your state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program, depending on your income and the eligibility rules of your state. (26 U.S.C. § 36B; 26 U.S.C. § 5000A).