Affordable health insurance in Texas for 2027 usually means a HealthCare.gov Marketplace plan with a premium tax credit. Texas did not expand Medicaid, so subsidies start at 100% of the federal poverty level and cap what you pay for the benchmark Silver plan at 2.15% to 10.22% of income up to 400%. Open Enrollment runs Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027.
Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026). Reviewed by Adam Segall, Licensed Insurance Agent (FL Lic #P101968).
- What “affordable” means in Texas for 2027
- Where Texans buy coverage
- How subsidies make coverage affordable
- Low income: Medicaid, CHIP and the coverage gap
- County hospital programs are not insurance
- Insurers leaving the Texas Marketplace for 2027
- The most affordable routes, in order
- Bronze vs. Silver: the real trade-off
- Immigrant families: 2027 changes
- Texas cities
- Free local enrollment help
- Frequently asked questions
What “affordable” means in Texas for 2027
Affordable coverage is a plan you can keep paying for all year that still protects you from a large medical bill. When people look for affordable health insurance, Texas offers one main door: the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace. It is the only place to use a premium tax credit, and every plan there covers essential benefits and cannot turn you away for a pre-existing condition.
The lowest premium is not always the most affordable plan. A small monthly bill can hide a deductible so high that one emergency room visit wipes out the savings. Aim for the lowest total cost: premiums plus what you are likely to spend on care. For 2027, the most any Marketplace plan can make you pay out of pocket for in-network covered care is $12,000 for one person or $24,000 for a family.
Prices are moving the wrong way. The enhanced premium tax credits expired on December 31, 2025, and 2026 premiums jumped. According to KFF, insurers proposed a median increase of about 15% for 2027, the second double-digit rise in a row. Compare every fall instead of letting last year’s plan renew on autopilot.
Where to buy affordable health insurance in Texas
Texas does not run its own exchange. Individual and family ACA plans in all 254 Texas counties are sold through the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.gov, either directly or through a licensed agent connected to it. A given plan costs the same either way.
The need is bigger here than anywhere else. Texas had the highest uninsured rate of any state in 2024, at 16.7%, roughly double the national rate of 8.2%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Health Insurance Coverage by State: 2023 and 2024 brief. Among working-age adults it was 21.6%, also the highest. It is why so many people search for affordable health insurance Texas families can actually keep.
Texas also has one of the two largest Marketplaces in the nation, so plans and networks differ sharply from county to county. Insurers and agents are regulated by the Texas Department of Insurance. For the statewide overview, see our Texas health insurance guide.
How subsidies make Texas coverage affordable
The premium tax credit is what turns a full-price plan into affordable health insurance. Texas households get it based on estimated 2027 income and household size. It covers the gap between the benchmark (second-lowest-cost) Silver plan in your area and a set share of your income, and you can use it on any metal level.
For 2027, the IRS sets these expected contributions for the benchmark Silver plan (see the IRS premium tax credit basics):
| Household income (% of poverty level) | Share of income you pay for benchmark Silver (2027) |
|---|---|
| 100% – 133% | 2.15% |
| 133% – 150% | 3.23% – 4.30% |
| 150% – 200% | 4.30% – 6.78% |
| 200% – 250% | 6.78% – 8.66% |
| 250% – 300% | 8.66% – 10.22% |
| 300% – 400% | 10.22% |
| Over 400% | No premium tax credit |
The poverty-level income lines for 2027 coverage come from the 2026 HHS guidelines. Because Texas did not expand Medicaid, subsidies start at 100% of the poverty level, not 138%.
| Household size | 100% FPL (subsidies start) | 400% FPL (subsidy cliff) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $132,000 |
Watch the cliff: for 2027 coverage, earning even one dollar above 400% of the poverty level means no premium tax credit at all. Retirement or HSA contributions can lower the income the Marketplace counts.
Our 2027 health insurance subsidies guide walks through the math step by step.
Honesty.AI applies your subsidy to every plan in your ZIP code and shows the true cost, side by side.
Low income in Texas: Medicaid, CHIP and the coverage gap
Texas has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA. Most adults without children or a disability cannot get Texas Medicaid at any income, and the limit for parents is very low. Adults below 100% of the poverty level with no other route to coverage fall into the coverage gap: too little income for a Marketplace subsidy, but no Medicaid. KFF estimates about 570,000 Texas adults are in that gap.
If you think you are in the gap, run your numbers again. Oil field, construction, tip and gig income swing during the year, and a realistic 2027 estimate at or above 100% of the poverty level can qualify you for a subsidized plan.
Children and pregnancy: Medicaid and CHIP
Texas children often qualify for Medicaid or CHIP even when their parents do not. A common setup is parents on a subsidized Marketplace plan with the children on CHIP. You can apply for Medicaid and CHIP any time of year at YourTexasBenefits.com, run by Texas Health and Human Services, and a HealthCare.gov application screens every household member automatically.
County hospital programs help, but they are not insurance
Large Texas counties run hospital-district assistance programs for low-income residents. They help, but they generally work only at that system’s own hospitals and clinics.
- Harris Health (Houston): its Financial Assistance Program is for households at or below 150% of the poverty level and “is not an insurance plan.”
- Parkland (Dallas County): Parkland Financial Assistance is open to eligible Dallas County residents below 250% of the poverty level, covers care at Parkland locations only, and “is not a health insurance program.”
- JPS Health Network (Tarrant County): JPS Connection calls itself the “payor of last resort” and is valid only at JPS locations.
At or above 100% of the poverty level, compare a subsidized plan too: it covers any in-network doctor and caps yearly costs.
Insurers leaving the Texas Marketplace for 2027
Two carriers leave the Texas individual market after December 31, 2026. If you are with either one, choose a new plan yourself rather than accept whatever plan you are moved into.
- Cigna is ending its ACA Marketplace plans after 2026, and Texas is one of the 11 states affected.
- Baylor Scott & White Health Plan says on its member FAQ that it plans to discontinue Individual & Family Marketplace plans after December 31, 2026. Its hospitals and doctors will keep accepting other Marketplace plans, so check each new plan’s network.
Pick your replacement by December 15, 2026 so coverage starts January 1, 2027 without a gap.
The most affordable routes to coverage in Texas, in order
Work down this list to find affordable health insurance. Texas households can mix routes, and the first option you qualify for is usually your best value.
- Texas Medicaid or CHIP if you, a pregnant family member or your children qualify by income.
- A subsidized Silver plan if your income is between 100% and 250% of the poverty level. Silver is the only tier with cost-sharing reductions, which quietly lower your deductible, copays and out-of-pocket maximum.
- A subsidized Bronze plan if you are healthy and want the lowest monthly bill, accepting a high deductible.
- Affordable job-based coverage. If an employer offers you self-only coverage costing no more than 10.22% of household income in 2027, it counts as affordable and you generally cannot get a Marketplace subsidy instead.
- A Catastrophic plan if you are under 30 or qualify for a hardship exemption. These get no premium tax credit, so compare them with subsidized Bronze first.
Read the fine print on alternatives. Short-term plans and health-sharing arrangements are not ACA plans and can exclude pre-existing conditions. Honesty shows the trade-offs side by side. Our national guide to affordable health insurance goes deeper on each route.
Bronze vs. Silver: the real trade-off for Texas families
Bronze plans have the lowest premiums and highest deductibles; the plan pays about 60% of covered costs on average. Silver pays about 70%, and much more with cost-sharing reductions. Gold and Platinum cost more monthly but less at the doctor.
| If this sounds like you… | Look first at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Income under 250% FPL, any health | Silver | Cost-sharing reductions cut your deductible and copays |
| Healthy, rarely see a doctor, income above 250% FPL | Bronze | Lowest premium; full protection after the out-of-pocket maximum |
| Regular prescriptions or a planned surgery | Gold | Higher premium, but lower costs every time you use care |
| Under 30, tight budget | Bronze or Catastrophic | Compare subsidized Bronze first; Catastrophic gets no credit |
Check the provider network before price; a plan is only affordable if your doctors are in it. Our guide on how to choose a health plan walks through the checklist.
Immigrant families: what changes for 2027
Starting January 1, 2027, a 2025 federal law limits Marketplace savings to U.S. citizens, green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and migrants from Compact of Free Association countries, according to HealthCare.gov.
Other lawfully present immigrants may still buy a plan for 2027 but cannot get the premium tax credit. Citizen children keep their own eligibility, and only people asking for coverage give immigration information. See the details in our 2027 subsidies guide.
Texas cities: affordable health insurance Texas guides by city
The rules above are statewide, but plans, networks, hospital districts and enrollment help change by county. Pick your city for local hospitals, clinics and in-person help.
- Health insurance in Houston (Harris County)
- Health insurance in San Antonio (Bexar County)
- Health insurance in Dallas (Dallas County)
- Health insurance in Austin (Travis County)
- Health insurance in Fort Worth (Tarrant County)
- Health insurance in El Paso (El Paso County)
Carriers and networks vary by county, and 2027 county plan lists are not final yet. Compare every option in your ZIP code on HealthCare.gov or with Honesty once Open Enrollment opens.
Free local enrollment help in Texas
Free help is part of finding affordable health insurance. Texas has federally funded Navigators who help people enroll at no cost and stay neutral. For 2026–2027, the CMS Navigator awardee list names seven Texas organizations, including Civic Heart Community Services and Light & Salt Association around Houston, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas in North Texas, CentroMed in San Antonio and MHP Salud in El Paso.
To book help near you, search your ZIP code at localhelp.healthcare.gov, which also lists certified application counselors and licensed agents.
How Honesty helps
Honesty.AI is a licensed, unbiased, agnostic AI insurance agent that is on your side. It compares every Marketplace plan in your county, applies your subsidy and checks your doctors and prescriptions against each network. It also lays out ACA, alternative and ancillary plans side by side, based on your family’s needs. That is affordable health insurance, Texas style: your county’s plans, your budget and Texas rules in one view.
It works 24/7 by chat, voice or text and enrolls you in minutes. Honesty® Insurance Services, LLC (NPN 21094885) is licensed in Texas (TX #3156333), and there is no office to visit. Learn more in how Honesty.AI works.
Find affordable 2027 coverage in Texas, the honest way
Compare every plan in your county, apply your subsidy and enroll in minutes by chat, voice or text. Honesty Is Your Best Policy®.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most affordable health insurance in Texas for 2027?
For most Texans it is a HealthCare.gov Marketplace plan with a premium tax credit. If your income is between 100% and 250% of the poverty level, a Silver plan with cost-sharing reductions is often the best value. Children may qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, which you can apply for at YourTexasBenefits.com.
When can I enroll in a Texas plan for 2027?
Open Enrollment runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Enrollments from December 16 through January 15 start February 1. Outside those dates you need a qualifying life event.
What income qualifies for a subsidy in Texas in 2027?
Household income between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. For 2027 coverage that is about $15,960 to $63,840 for one person, or $33,000 to $132,000 for a family of four. Above 400%, there is no premium tax credit for 2027.
Why can’t I get Texas Medicaid if my income is very low?
Texas did not expand Medicaid, so most adults without children or a disability do not qualify regardless of income. Adults below 100% of the poverty level with no other eligibility fall into the coverage gap. Children often qualify for Medicaid or CHIP instead.
Is my Cigna or Baylor Scott & White plan ending?
Yes, if it is an individual Marketplace plan. Cigna is leaving the Texas Marketplace after December 31, 2026, and Baylor Scott & White Health Plan plans to discontinue its Individual & Family Marketplace plans the same day. Choose a new plan by December 15, 2026 to avoid a gap.
Does it cost more to enroll through Honesty instead of HealthCare.gov?
No. Insurers file regulated prices, so the same plan costs the same whether you enroll yourself or with help. Honesty compares every plan, applies your subsidy and helps you enroll by chat, voice or text.
Keep learning: start with our Texas health insurance guide, check the Open Enrollment 2027 dates, learn when a Special Enrollment Period applies, and read how the health insurance Marketplace works.
