Texas open enrollment 2027 runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov, because Texas uses the federal Marketplace. Enroll by December 15, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1, 2027. Enroll December 16 through January 15 and coverage starts February 1. After that, you need a Special Enrollment Period.
Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026)
Texas ACA open enrollment dates for 2027
Texas does not run its own exchange, so the federal calendar applies statewide, in all 254 counties. Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage opens November 1, 2026 and closes January 15, 2027. Your coverage start date depends on when you pick a plan, not on when you first log in.
HealthCare.gov lists the same dates on its official dates and deadlines page. Here is the full Texas marketplace enrollment calendar for the 2027 plan year:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| November 1, 2026 | Open Enrollment opens on HealthCare.gov |
| December 15, 2026 | Last day to enroll or switch plans for coverage starting January 1, 2027 |
| January 1, 2027 | Coverage begins for plans chosen by December 15 (once the first premium is paid) |
| December 16, 2026 – January 15, 2027 | Plans chosen in this window start February 1, 2027 |
| January 15, 2027 | Open Enrollment closes |
| January 16 – October 31, 2027 | Enrollment only with a Special Enrollment Period |
| Any time of year | Apply for Texas Medicaid or CHIP (no deadline) |
For the national picture, including state-run exchanges with later deadlines, see our Open Enrollment 2027 guide.
The real deadline: December 15, 2026
January 15 is the final day of Texas open enrollment 2027, but December 15 is the date that matters most. Miss it and you go without coverage for all of January, even if you enroll a few days later.
The calendar was in question for a while. A 2025 federal rule would have ended Open Enrollment on December 15 starting with 2027 coverage. A federal court set that change aside in June 2026, and HealthCare.gov now shows the November 1 – January 15 window for this season. That ruling is still being appealed, so any change would affect fall 2027 (2028 coverage) at the earliest.
Tip: Put December 15, 2026 on your calendar as your personal deadline. If you already have a Marketplace plan and do nothing, you will usually be renewed automatically, but rarely into the best-value plan for 2027.
Where Texans enroll
Texans buy individual and family ACA plans through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace at HealthCare.gov, directly or with a licensed agent connected to it. A plan’s price is the same either way. The Marketplace is the only place to get an income-based premium tax credit.
Every Marketplace plan covers the ten essential health benefits and cannot turn you away or charge more for a pre-existing condition. Insurers and agents in Texas are regulated by the Texas Department of Insurance, which runs a consumer help line at 800-252-3439. Free in-person help from federally funded Navigators is listed at localhelp.healthcare.gov. Our Texas health insurance guide explains how the Texas market works.
What’s new in Texas for the 2027 plan year
Several changes make shopping during Texas open enrollment 2027 more important than usual. Don’t let last year’s plan renew without checking it.
- Smaller subsidies, the cliff is back. The enhanced premium tax credits expired December 31, 2025. For 2027, households above 400% of the poverty level get no premium tax credit.
- Higher prices again. Insurers proposed a median increase of about 15% for 2027, according to KFF, after a median increase of about 20% for 2026.
- Two insurers leaving Texas. Cigna is ending its ACA Marketplace plans after December 31, 2026 in 11 states, including Texas (Healthcare Innovation). Baylor Scott & White Health Plan says it plans to discontinue its Individual & Family Marketplace plans after December 31, 2026 (member FAQ). If you have either one, choose a new plan yourself.
- Higher out-of-pocket cap. The most a 2027 plan can make you pay for in-network covered care is $12,000 for one person or $24,000 for a family.
- Immigrant eligibility change. Starting January 1, 2027, premium tax credits are limited to citizens, green card holders, Cuban/Haitian entrants and COFA migrants (HealthCare.gov). See our subsidies guide for immigrant families.
Subsidies still exist. For 2027 they start at 100% of the poverty level in Texas and cap your share of the benchmark Silver plan at 2.15% to 10.22% of income, up to 400%:
| Household size | 100% FPL (credits begin in Texas) | 400% FPL (credits end) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $132,000 |
These limits come from the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines, which apply to 2027 coverage. Our affordable health insurance Texas guide walks through the full 2027 contribution table.
Honesty.AI re-checks your subsidy and compares every Texas plan for your ZIP code, doctors and prescriptions.
No Medicaid expansion: the Texas coverage gap
Texas has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA. Most adults without children can’t get Texas Medicaid at any income, and the limit for parents is very low. That leaves some adults earning below 100% of the poverty level with no Medicaid and no Marketplace subsidy, a situation called the coverage gap.
KFF estimates about 570,000 Texas adults are in the gap (KFF Texas Medicaid fact sheet). If your income is close to the line, estimate your 2027 income carefully. Gig, tip, construction or oil-field income that reaches 100% of the poverty level for the year can qualify you for a premium tax credit.
Below that line, community health centers and county hospital-district assistance programs in large Texas counties can help with care, but they are not insurance. Our Texas city guides list local options.
Children’s Medicaid and CHIP: no enrollment deadline
Texas children often qualify for Children’s Medicaid or CHIP even when their parents don’t qualify for Medicaid. These programs don’t follow the open enrollment calendar, so you can apply any day of the year.
Apply through YourTexasBenefits.com, run by Texas Health and Human Services, or start a HealthCare.gov application. The Marketplace checks everyone in your household and sends anyone who looks eligible to the state. A common Texas setup is parents on a subsidized Marketplace plan and children on CHIP.
Missed the deadline? Texas Special Enrollment Periods
After January 15, 2027, Texans can enroll in or change a Marketplace plan only with a Special Enrollment Period. Most are triggered by a qualifying life event, and you generally have 60 days to pick a plan.
- Losing coverage: a job-based plan, COBRA ending, or losing Medicaid or CHIP (a 90-day window for Medicaid or CHIP loss).
- Household changes: marriage, a birth or adoption, or a divorce that ends your coverage.
- Moving: to a new Texas ZIP code or county where different plans are sold, or moving to Texas from another state or country.
- Disasters: being affected by an unexpected event or natural disaster, which can matter during Texas hurricane and flood seasons.
These events are listed on HealthCare.gov’s Special Enrollment Period page, and you may need documents to prove them. Our Special Enrollment Period guide covers each one.
Careful with stopgap plans: short-term and other non-ACA plans are heavily advertised in Texas after January 15. They can exclude pre-existing conditions and can’t use your premium tax credit. Read our short-term health insurance guide before buying one.
How to enroll during Texas open enrollment 2027
Most people finish in under an hour once they have their information ready. Here is the order that works best:
- Gather your details: ZIP code, everyone’s date of birth, Social Security or immigration document numbers, and any job-based coverage offers.
- Estimate 2027 income: your subsidy is based on expected 2027 household income and reconciled on the 2027 tax return you file in 2028.
- List your doctors and prescriptions: networks and drug lists vary widely from Houston to El Paso.
- Compare total cost: premium plus deductible plus likely care. Silver plans carry cost-sharing reductions for incomes up to 250% of poverty.
- Enroll and pay: coverage isn’t active until the first premium is paid.
Local hospitals, clinics and enrollment help differ by city. See our guides for Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth and El Paso.
Get your 2027 Texas plan sorted before December 15
Honesty.AI is the world’s first patented, licensed AI insurance agent. It compares ACA, alternative and ancillary plans for your family’s needs, applies your subsidy, checks Medicaid and CHIP, and can enroll you, 24/7 by chat, voice or text. Honesty® Insurance Services is licensed in Texas and works for you, not the carriers.
Frequently asked questions
When is ACA open enrollment 2027 in Texas?
November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. Enroll by December 15, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1, 2027; enroll December 16 through January 15 for a February 1 start.
What is the Texas ACA enrollment deadline for 2027?
The last day to enroll is January 15, 2027. To have coverage on January 1, 2027, you must pick a plan by December 15, 2026 and pay your first premium.
Does Texas have its own health insurance marketplace?
No. Texas uses the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.gov. Texans can enroll there directly or through a licensed agent, and the plan price is the same either way.
Can I apply for Texas Medicaid or CHIP after open enrollment ends?
Yes. Medicaid and CHIP have no enrollment deadline. Apply any time at YourTexasBenefits.com or through a HealthCare.gov application.
What if I miss Texas open enrollment 2027?
You can enroll only with a Special Enrollment Period, usually within 60 days of a life event such as losing coverage, moving, marriage or a new baby. Otherwise you wait for Open Enrollment in fall 2027.
Is my insurer leaving the Texas Marketplace in 2027?
Cigna and Baylor Scott & White Health Plan are ending their Texas Marketplace plans after December 31, 2026. If you have either, choose a new 2027 plan during open enrollment.
Keep learning: the Texas health insurance guide, affordable health insurance in Texas, the national Open Enrollment 2027 guide, the 2027 subsidies guide and how Honesty.AI works.
