As George mentioned, there is not an exception for repaying the Advance Premium Tax Credit.

1. The first thing to try is to see if contributing to retirement accounts would lower income below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (which will limit the amount of the repayment).
2. If that doesn't work, see if filing as Married Filing Separately will help anything (it may lower one or both spouses to under 400%).
3. If that doesn't work, try combining #1 and #2.