If you need individual or family health insurance, Austin and Travis County residents buy 2027 plans on the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.gov. Premium tax credits are available from 100% to 400% of the poverty level. Open Enrollment runs Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027; enroll by Dec 15 to be covered on Jan 1.
Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026). Reviewed by Adam Segall, Licensed Insurance Agent (FL Lic #P101968).
- Who shops for their own coverage in Austin
- 2027 dates at a glance
- Freelancers, startups and gig workers
- Central Health MAP is not insurance
- Austin networks and a carrier exit
- UT students and young adults
- Subsidies by income
- Free help and clinics in Travis County
- The coverage gap and kids
- Frequently asked questions
Who shops for their own coverage in Austin
Austin has plenty of people whose work doesn’t come with a health plan: contract developers, designers, startup founders, musicians, rideshare and delivery drivers, and anyone between jobs. They all buy their own health insurance. Austin has no local exchange, and Texas uses the federal one, so Travis County residents shop on HealthCare.gov or through a licensed agent or assistant connected to it, at the same price for the same plan.
Every Marketplace plan covers essential benefits like primary care, hospital stays, prescriptions, maternity and mental health, and none can refuse you for a pre-existing condition. It is also the only place to get an income-based premium tax credit.
See our Texas health insurance guide for statewide rules, or the affordable health insurance in Texas hub for every way to lower your premium.
2027 dates at a glance
| Enroll between | Coverage begins |
|---|---|
| Nov 1 and Dec 15, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 |
| Dec 16, 2026 and Jan 15, 2027 | Feb 1, 2027 |
| Any other time | Only after a qualifying life event |
Losing a job with benefits, moving to Austin, aging off a parent’s plan, marriage or a new baby can open a Special Enrollment Period, usually 60 days. Our Open Enrollment 2027 guide covers the details.
Freelancers, startups and gig workers
For self-employed health insurance, Austin freelancers should start with one tricky number: your estimated 2027 household income. The premium tax credit is based on that estimate and reconciled on your 2027 tax return. If a big contract lands mid-year, update your application so you don’t owe a large amount back at tax time.
- Estimate net income, after business expenses, not gross receipts.
- Watch the 400% line. For one person that’s $63,840 for 2027 coverage; above it there is no credit.
- Ask about the deduction. The IRS says self-employed people with a net profit may be eligible for the self-employed health insurance deduction.
- Leaving a tech job? Compare COBRA against a subsidized Marketplace plan before your employer coverage ends.
Honesty.AI estimates your 2027 credit, compares every Travis County plan and checks your doctors in minutes.
Central Health’s MAP is not health insurance
Travis County has its own hospital district. Central Health, created by Travis County voters, pays for care for residents with low income. Its Medical Access Program (MAP) and MAP Basic are open to uninsured Travis County residents with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level who meet the other criteria.
Central Health is clear about one thing: MAP and MAP Basic “are not health insurance programs, and they are not federally funded.” They help with local care, but they don’t work like a plan you can use anywhere. If your income reaches 100% of the poverty level, compare a subsidized Marketplace plan too. Many households in that range qualify for low out-of-pocket costs on Silver plans.
Health insurance Austin networks and a 2027 carrier exit
Networks decide which doctors you can see, and in Austin they vary a lot by plan. Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas, run by Ascension Seton, is the teaching hospital for Dell Medical School and part of Central Texas’s adult Level I trauma care. St. David’s HealthCare and Baylor Scott & White also run large hospital networks across the metro. Check that your doctors and hospital are in-network for 2027 before you choose.
Carrier exits for 2027: Baylor Scott & White Health Plan said it will stop offering individual Marketplace plans after December 31, 2026, according to Becker’s Hospital Review, and Cigna is leaving the ACA Marketplace in Texas and 10 other states (ACASignups). If you have either, choose a new plan by December 15, 2026.
An insurer leaving doesn’t mean a hospital system stops seeing patients with other plans. It means you need a new plan that includes your doctors. Carriers and networks vary by county, and 2027 Travis County data isn’t final yet, so compare every option on HealthCare.gov or with Honesty. Our guide on how to choose a health plan explains HMO vs. PPO.
UT students and young adults
The University of Texas at Austin requires international students with F or J status to carry the UT Student Health Insurance Plan, which is added to the tuition bill unless an approved waiver is filed, according to the UT Austin catalog. Other students usually stay on a parent’s plan or buy their own.
Young adults can generally stay on a parent’s plan until 26, and a Marketplace plan can keep you through December 31 of the year you turn 26, per HealthCare.gov. Graduating, leaving a student plan or aging off a parent’s coverage can open a Special Enrollment Period, so start comparing before the old coverage ends.
Subsidies by income for Austin households
For health insurance, Austin households get the same 2027 federal subsidy rules as the rest of Texas. The credit caps your share of the benchmark Silver plan at a percentage of income, and you can use it on any tier.
| Your situation | Income vs. poverty level | 2027 rule |
|---|---|---|
| Very low income, no kids | Under 100% | Usually no credit and no Medicaid (coverage gap) |
| Lower income | 100% – 150% | Pay about 2.15% – 4.30% of income for benchmark Silver |
| Moderate income | 150% – 250% | 4.30% – 8.66%, plus cost-sharing reductions on Silver |
| Middle income | 250% – 400% | 8.66% – 10.22% |
| Higher income | Over 400% | No credit for 2027 |
For a family of four, 100% of the poverty level is $33,000 and 400% is $132,000. The enhanced credits expired at the end of 2025, and KFF reports insurers proposed a median increase of about 15% nationally for 2027. The 2027 out-of-pocket maximum is $12,000 for one person. See IRS premium tax credit basics and our 2027 subsidies guide, including the new immigrant eligibility limits that start January 1, 2027.
Free help and clinics in Travis County
Travis County has in-person Navigator help for 2026–2027. The CMS Navigator awardee summary lists the Light & Salt Association, working with Austin Light and Salt Services, as offering in-person and virtual help in Travis, Williamson and Hays counties, among others. Navigators are free and neutral; find one at localhelp.healthcare.gov.
CommUnityCare Health Centers, an affiliate of Central Health, runs a network of federally qualified health centers that treat patients regardless of insurance or income. Austin Public Health handles immunizations and prevention programs.
The coverage gap and kids
Texas did not expand Medicaid, so most adults without children can’t get Medicaid, and Austin adults under 100% of the poverty level may land in the coverage gap. MAP and CommUnityCare exist partly for that reason. Children often qualify for Texas Medicaid or CHIP even when parents don’t; apply any time at YourTexasBenefits.com.
How Honesty helps Austin residents
Honesty.AI is a licensed, unbiased, agnostic AI insurance agent on your side. It compares every plan in your Austin ZIP code, applies your subsidy, checks networks and drug lists, and lays out ACA, alternative and ancillary plans side by side, based on your household’s needs.
There’s no office to visit for your health insurance. Austin residents reach Honesty 24/7 by chat, voice or text, and Honesty® Insurance Services, LLC is licensed in Texas (TX #3156333). Learn how Honesty.AI works.
Your 2027 Austin plan, compared honestly
See every Marketplace plan in Travis County, apply your subsidy and enroll in minutes. Honesty Is Your Best Policy®.
Frequently asked questions
Where do freelancers in Austin buy health insurance?
Self-employed Austin residents buy individual plans on the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.gov or through a licensed agent or assistant connected to it. The premium tax credit is based on estimated 2027 household income and reconciled on your tax return.
Is Central Health’s MAP the same as health insurance?
No. Central Health says MAP and MAP Basic are not health insurance programs. They serve uninsured Travis County residents with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Compare a subsidized Marketplace plan if your income is at least 100% of the poverty level.
What happens if my Baylor Scott and White or Cigna Marketplace plan ends?
Both carriers have announced they will stop offering individual Marketplace plans after December 31, 2026. Choose a new 2027 plan during Open Enrollment, ideally by December 15, 2026, so coverage starts January 1 without a gap.
Do UT Austin students need their own health insurance?
International students with F or J status must carry the UT Student Health Insurance Plan unless a waiver is approved. Other students often stay on a parent’s plan, which can generally last until age 26, or buy a Marketplace plan.
Where can I get free enrollment help in Austin?
CMS lists the Light and Salt Association as an in-person Navigator for Travis County for 2026 to 2027. Search your ZIP code at localhelp.healthcare.gov, or ask Honesty.AI anytime by chat, voice or text.
Keep learning: compare our guides for San Antonio, Houston and Dallas, see every city in the affordable health insurance in Texas hub, read about affordable health insurance, or learn how the health insurance Marketplace works.
