To buy your own health insurance, Dallas residents use the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.gov. For 2027, households earning 100% to 400% of the poverty level can get a premium tax credit that caps the benchmark Silver plan at 2.15%–10.22% of income. Enroll Nov 1 – Dec 15, 2026 for coverage on Jan 1; Open Enrollment ends Jan 15, 2027.
Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026). Reviewed by Adam Segall, Licensed Insurance Agent (FL Lic #P101968).
- Health insurance in Dallas: the basics
- Self-employed or between jobs
- Baylor Scott & White: the plan vs. the hospitals
- Dallas hospital networks to check
- Parkland Financial Assistance is not insurance
- 2027 subsidies by income
- Low income: Medicaid, CHIP and the gap
- Free help in Dallas County
- Frequently asked questions
Health insurance in Dallas: the basics for 2027
Texas does not run a state exchange, so anyone buying their own health insurance in Dallas shops on the federally run HealthCare.gov, directly or through a licensed agent connected to it. Most of the city sits in Dallas County, and plans, prices and networks are set county by county, so always compare using your own ZIP code.
Every Marketplace plan covers essential benefits, including doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, maternity and mental health care, and none can turn you down for a pre-existing condition. Texas had the highest uninsured rate of any state in 2024, at 16.7%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, so plenty of North Texans are shopping for the first time.
| Date | What it means for Dallas shoppers |
|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2026 | Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage opens |
| Dec 15, 2026 | Last day to enroll for coverage starting Jan 1, 2027 |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Open Enrollment ends; coverage starts Feb 1, 2027 |
| Any time | Medicaid and CHIP applications; Special Enrollment after a life event |
See our Open Enrollment 2027 guide for the full timeline.
Self-employed, freelancing or between jobs in Dallas
If you run your own business, drive for an app, consult or just left a corporate job, the Marketplace is usually your main option for individual health insurance. These rules decide what you pay for health insurance. Dallas freelancers and job-changers should check each one.
- Estimate 2027 income, not 2026. Your subsidy is based on what you expect to earn next year and is reconciled on your 2027 tax return. Use your best net self-employment estimate and update the Marketplace if it changes.
- Watch the 400% cliff. Above 400% of the poverty level there is no premium tax credit for 2027. Retirement and HSA contributions can lower the income the Marketplace counts.
- Job offers coverage? If your employer’s self-only plan costs no more than 10.22% of household income in 2027, it counts as affordable and you generally cannot get a Marketplace subsidy instead.
- Leaving a job mid-year? Losing job-based coverage opens a Special Enrollment Period, generally for 60 days. Compare a Marketplace plan with COBRA before you decide.
For more on running your own coverage, read how to choose a health plan.
Baylor Scott & White: the health plan vs. the hospitals
This is the biggest 2027 change for health insurance in Dallas. Baylor Scott & White Health Plan says it plans to discontinue its Individual & Family Marketplace plans after December 31, 2026, according to its member FAQ. Coverage stays the same through December 31, and members are told to pick a new plan during Open Enrollment.
The exit affects the insurance plan, not the hospitals. The same FAQ says Baylor Scott & White Health “will continue to accept Individual & Family Marketplace plans.” If you want to keep a Baylor Scott & White doctor, choose a 2027 plan from another insurer and confirm that doctor is in its network.
Cigna is also leaving the Marketplace in Texas and 10 other states after 2026 (ACA Signups). If either company covers you, choose your replacement by December 15 so you are not moved into a plan that leaves out your doctors.
Dallas hospital networks to check before you choose
When you compare health insurance, Dallas networks matter as much as price. Plans are often built around specific hospital systems. Two plans at a similar price can include very different doctors. Before you enroll, confirm your doctors, specialists and preferred hospital are in-network for 2027.
The systems Dallas residents ask about most include Parkland Health (Dallas County’s public hospital system), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Baylor Scott & White, Texas Health Resources, Methodist Health System and, for kids, Children’s Health. We do not rank carriers or hospitals. Networks change every year and 2027 county plan data is not final yet, so carriers and networks vary by county; compare every option on HealthCare.gov or with Honesty.
Honesty.AI checks your doctors against every plan in your ZIP code and applies your subsidy.
Parkland Financial Assistance is not health insurance
A hospital discount program is not health insurance. Dallas County residents often use Parkland. Parkland Financial Assistance helps eligible Dallas County residents with incomes below 250% of the federal poverty income level. Parkland is clear about the limits: it covers care received at a Parkland location, and “it is not a health insurance program.”
So it will not cover a visit to a doctor or hospital outside Parkland, and it does not move with you if you leave the county. If your income is between 100% and 250% of the poverty level, you may also qualify for a subsidized Silver plan with cost-sharing reductions, which lower deductibles and copays across a full network. Compare both before you decide.
What you’ll pay: health insurance Dallas subsidies by income
Your premium depends on age, household size, ZIP code and 2027 income. The premium tax credit limits what you pay for the benchmark Silver plan to the shares below, set by the IRS for 2027 (IRS premium tax credit basics). You can use the credit on any metal tier.
| Income (% of poverty level) | Your share of income 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 credit for 2027 |
For one person, 100% of the poverty level is $15,960 and 400% is $63,840; for a family of four it runs from $33,000 to $132,000. Insurers proposed a median increase of about 15% nationally for 2027, according to KFF, after the enhanced credits expired at the end of 2025. The 2027 out-of-pocket maximum is $12,000 for one person. Full details are in our 2027 subsidies guide.
Low income in Dallas: Medicaid, CHIP and the coverage gap
Texas did not expand Medicaid, so most adults without children or a disability cannot get Medicaid in Dallas at any income. Adults below 100% of the poverty level with no other eligibility fall into the coverage gap. If your income is close to that line, a realistic 2027 estimate at or above 100% can qualify you for a subsidized plan.
Children have more options for health insurance (Dallas families included). Kids often qualify for Medicaid or CHIP even when parents do not, and you can apply any time at YourTexasBenefits.com. A HealthCare.gov application screens everyone in the household at once.
Immigrant families: starting January 1, 2027, Marketplace savings are limited to citizens, green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and COFA migrants, per HealthCare.gov. Other lawfully present immigrants can still buy a plan without the credit. See our 2027 immigrant rules.
Free in-person help in Dallas County
Dallas County has federally funded Navigators for 2026–2027. According to the CMS Navigator awardee summary, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas offers in-person and virtual help in 16 North Texas counties, including Dallas, Collin, Denton and Tarrant, and Light & Salt Association also serves Dallas County. Navigators are free and stay neutral. Search your ZIP code at localhelp.healthcare.gov to book.
For sliding-fee primary care, Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic operates federally qualified health center sites in Dallas, listed in HRSA’s Find a Health Center directory along with other Dallas health centers. Dallas County Health and Human Services handles immunizations and public health programs.
How Honesty helps Dallas residents
Honesty.AI is a licensed, unbiased, agnostic AI insurance agent that is on your side. It compares every plan in your Dallas ZIP code, applies your subsidy, flags cost-sharing reductions and checks your doctors against each network. It also shows ACA, alternative and ancillary plans side by side, based on your family’s needs.
There is no Dallas office to visit for health insurance. Dallas shoppers reach Honesty 24/7 by chat, voice or text, and Honesty® Insurance Services, LLC is licensed in Texas (TX #3156333). See how Honesty.AI works.
Find your 2027 Dallas plan the honest way
Compare every Marketplace plan in your county, apply your subsidy and enroll in minutes. Honesty Is Your Best Policy®.
Frequently asked questions
Is Baylor Scott & White leaving the Marketplace in Dallas?
The health plan is. Baylor Scott & White Health Plan plans to discontinue its Individual & Family Marketplace plans after December 31, 2026. The hospital system says it will keep accepting Marketplace plans, so you can choose another insurer and check that your doctors are in its network.
Can I use Parkland Financial Assistance instead of health insurance?
Parkland says its financial assistance is not a health insurance program. It helps eligible Dallas County residents below 250% of the poverty level with care at Parkland locations only. A subsidized Marketplace plan covers a full network and caps your yearly costs.
I’m self-employed in Dallas. How do I estimate income for a subsidy?
Use your best estimate of 2027 net self-employment income plus any other household income. The credit is reconciled on your 2027 tax return, so update the Marketplace if your income changes during the year.
When is the deadline for 2027 coverage in Dallas?
Enroll by December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Open Enrollment runs through January 15, 2027, and enrollments after December 15 start February 1.
Where can I get free enrollment help in Dallas?
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and Light & Salt Association are federally funded Navigators serving Dallas County for 2026–2027. Search your ZIP code at localhelp.healthcare.gov, or get help from Honesty by chat, voice or text.
Keep learning: compare nearby guides for Fort Worth, Houston and Austin, see every city in our affordable health insurance in Texas hub, read the Texas health insurance guide, or learn how the health insurance Marketplace works.
