How to sign up in Texas.
- Go to HealthCare.gov, or work with a licensed agent who enrolls you through it. Using an agent does not change your premium; agents are paid by the insurer.
- Enter your household and your best estimate of next year's income. This sets your premium tax credit.
- Compare plans in your county by network, drug list, deductible and after-credit premium.
- Pick by December 15, 2026 for a January 1 start, and pay the first premium to the insurer.
Our cost estimator runs your ZIP code through the federal Marketplace API, the same data HealthCare.gov uses, so you can see your credit and the lowest premium at each metal level before you talk to anyone.
Plans and insurers in the big Texas metros.
| Metro (county) | Plans | Insurers | Lowest silver, age 40 | Next lowest silver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin (Travis County) | 109 | 9 | $608 (Sendero) | $652 (Harbor Health) |
| San Antonio (Bexar County) | 121 | 8 | $636 (UnitedHealthcare) | $637 (Community First) |
| Dallas (Dallas County) | 136 | 9 | $667 (Ambetter) | $688 (Molina) |
| Fort Worth (Tarrant County) | 126 | 8 | $688 (Ambetter) | $709 (Oscar, Imperial) |
| Houston (Harris County) | 119 | 7 | $586 (Community Health Choice) | $592 (Ambetter) |
Every plan in these five counties was an HMO, EPO or POS; there were no PPOs. That matters if you see doctors in more than one city or want out-of-network coverage. Several local nonprofit plans connected to county hospital systems, such as Sendero (Austin area), Community First (Bexar County) and Community Health Choice (Harris County), were among the lowest priced silver plans in their counties.
See the full insurer list in the best health insurance in Texas, or check your own county on our local pages for Austin, Round Rock, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston.
Who qualifies for savings in Texas.
| Household | Premium tax credit range, 2027 | Silver savings up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,960 to $63,840 | $39,900 |
| 2 people | $21,640 to $86,560 | $54,100 |
| 3 people | $27,320 to $109,280 | $68,300 |
| 4 people | $33,000 to $132,000 | $82,500 |
See ACA income limits for the full chart and the subsidy cliff for what happens above 400%.
Want a licensed advisor to run your numbers?
Get my free optionsThe Texas coverage gap.
Texas has not expanded Medicaid. Texas Medicaid generally does not cover adults without children unless they are elderly or disabled, and covers parents only at very low incomes. And the premium tax credit generally starts at 100% of the poverty level. So an adult earning under about $15,960 a year can end up with neither. See Texas Medicaid income limits for the numbers.
If that is you, talk to us anyway. Children in the household may qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, a small increase in expected income can change the answer, and enrolled tribal members have separate protections through EnrollNative.
Texas rules worth knowing.
- There is no Texas state penalty for being uninsured, and the federal penalty is $0.
- Insurance agents and agencies are licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance. You can verify any agent at TDI's agent lookup.
- Short-term plans are sold in Texas but are not Marketplace plans: they can deny coverage for pre-existing conditions and cannot be used with a tax credit.
Questions people ask.
Does Texas have its own health insurance exchange?
No. Texas uses the federal marketplace, HealthCare.gov.
Is it cheaper to buy through HealthCare.gov or an agent in Texas?
Neither. Marketplace premiums are the same either way, and licensed agents are paid by the insurance company.
How many insurers sell Obamacare plans in Texas?
It varies by county. For 2026, the Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston area counties each had 7 to 9 insurers.
Sources.
- HealthCare.gov. healthcare.gov
- CMS Marketplace API (HealthCare.gov plan data), plan year 2026, queried September 23, 2026. developer.cms.gov
- CMS Marketplace API, state Medicaid and CHIP eligibility thresholds, fiscal year 2026. developer.cms.gov
- HHS ASPE, 2026 poverty guidelines. aspe.hhs.gov
- Texas Department of Insurance, Health insurance. tdi.texas.gov
General information for Texas and Oklahoma residents, not tax or legal advice. Rules and numbers can change; this page is reviewed on the date shown above. Your eligibility and prices are set by HealthCare.gov or the insurer when you apply.
Who wrote this.
RedHealth Advisors LLC is a licensed health insurance agency in Round Rock, Texas (Texas agency license 3449979, NPN 22110493), serving Texas and Oklahoma. Ryan Hutson is a licensed agent (NPN 21321807). Licensing details.