So, a married couple whose only household income is a social security check and a modest private pension, but they have some CDs and a somewhat substantial IRA (but will not start to take the RMD for a few more years), would qualify for a subsidy for health care?
Yes. Assets are irrelevant to get Obamacare subsidies (as long as it’s not through Medicaid).
Some welfare benefits do depend on assets as well as income, but that’s not the case for Obamacare subsidies.
However, if you go on Medicaid as part of Obamacare (in those states which expanded Medicaid under Obamacare), you may be subject to an asset test.
As I understand it!
Another thing though — to get the subsidy, you have to buy the insurance through an Obamacare exchange (either the federal one or a state one).
You also mentioned Social Security. I’d think you’d have to include that in the income test, but I don’t know.