Texas Open Enrollment for 2027 Coverage
Last updated November 3, 2026 · By Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker
Short answer
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage in Texas runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. Enroll by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1; plans picked December 16–January 15 start February 1. Private, medically underwritten plans don't use the window: if approved, they can start the first of any month.
Key dates for Texas
| What | HealthCare.gov |
|---|---|
| Open enrollment opens | November 1, 2026 |
| Open enrollment closes | January 15, 2027 |
| Deadline for a January 1, 2027 start | December 15, 2026 |
| Plans picked December 16 to January 15 | Start February 1, 2027 |
| Private plans | Any month, if approved |
Texas at a glance
- Where Texas buys Marketplace plans: HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace
- 2027 average rate change: 13.1% to 14.1% (finalized)
- Insurers leaving for 2027: two
- Small-group average change: about 16.9%
- Largest metro areas: Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin
- Medicaid expansion: No
What changed for 2027
Texas' 13 to 14 percent, now final after the November approvals, sits slightly under the national average, while small-group plans rise about 16.9 percent. Texas remains the second-largest Marketplace in the country. More detail is on the Texas 2027 premium increase page.
For Texas households buying 2027 coverage, the Marketplace premium tax credit stops at 400% of the federal poverty level: $63,840 for one person, $86,560 for two, $109,280 for three and $132,000 for four. The repayment caps were removed starting with tax year 2026, so any excess advance credit is repaid in full on Form 8962. General information, not tax advice — confirm with your CPA based on your specific entity structure.
Who this year's window matters for in Texas
Texas has the second-largest Marketplace in the country and about 15 insurers, two of them leaving, so the lineup in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio is crowded, while West Texas and the Rio Grande Valley have fewer options. With that many plans, last year's good deal may not be one in 2027, and small employers face about 16.9 percent on group renewals.
Self-employed work that is common in Texas, and the people I most often help there: oil and gas contractors in the Permian Basin and Houston, construction trades, owner-operator truck drivers on I-35 and I-10 and in Laredo freight, real estate agents, tech contractors in Austin, rideshare and delivery drivers, and ranching families.
Before you renew in Texas
Texans in El Paso, the Rio Grande Valley and West Texas should compare plans by county, since the lineup there is much thinner than in Houston or Dallas-Fort Worth. Oil and gas contractors, real estate agents and other self-employed Texans whose income moves with the market should base the 2027 estimate on a full year, and families with several children should compare how each plan prices kids.
Should you renew, switch, or look at private?
Auto-renew risk
Do nothing and HealthCare.gov re-enrolls you at the new 2027 price, 13.1% to 14.1% higher on average in Texas. With two insurers leaving, some Texas renewals land in a plan from a different company.
Healthy, income above the line
Price a private plan in Texas too. If approved, it can start the first of any month, with no wait for Texas's window.
Health conditions or subsidy-eligible income
Use the Marketplace. HealthCare.gov plans can't decline you or charge more for your health.
Checklist before you pick a plan
- Your Texas renewal notice
- The new 2027 premium and deductible
- Doctors and prescriptions still in network, including any care in Houston or Dallas–Fort Worth
- Your 2027 income estimate
Missed it?
After Texas's window closes, a Marketplace plan needs a special enrollment event: losing other coverage, a move, marriage or a baby, generally within 60 days, through HealthCare.gov. Check with Can I enroll now? or the missed open enrollment guide.
Leaving a job in Texas? Texas requires insured group plans to offer state continuation for up to nine months to people not eligible for COBRA, or six more months after COBRA ends, at the group rate plus 2 percent. It does not apply to self-funded employer plans.
Short-term plans, if you only need a bridge: Texas defines short-term plans by reference to the federal rules, which set a three-month initial term and four months in total; federal agencies are not prioritizing enforcement of that limit while new rules are written. They are not Marketplace coverage.
In Texas, a private, medically underwritten plan needs no event. If approved, it starts the first of a month; approval is not guaranteed.
Compare Texas plans before you renew
Private plans priced first, the Marketplace alongside when it fits. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee.
About your broker
Frank Caballero (NPN 21032307) is a health insurance broker licensed in 31 states including Texas. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee. BBB Accredited (A) and rated 4.9 on Google from 78 reviews. He is independent, not HealthCare.gov or a government agency.
Texas open enrollment questions
When does open enrollment end in Texas for 2027?
January 15, 2027, on HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace. Pick a plan by December 15 for a January 1 start in Texas.
What happens if I miss the December 15 deadline in Texas?
You can still enroll through January 15, but a plan picked after December 15 starts February 1.
Can I get a private plan in Texas outside open enrollment?
Yes. In Texas you can apply in any month, and if approved, a private, medically underwritten plan starts the first of a month; the insurer can decline based on health.
Will I be auto-renewed in Texas?
Usually, at the 2027 price: 13.1% to 14.1% higher on average. With two insurers leaving, some Texas renewals land in a plan from a different company.
Is there a fee to use a broker in Texas?
No. Texas clients pay nothing; the insurance company pays the broker, and Marketplace premiums are the same with or without one.
Why do Texas plan prices vary so much at the same metal level?
With about 15 insurers, Texas plans at the same metal level can differ widely in price and network. Compare by county and by doctor list during open enrollment rather than renewing on autopilot.
More for Texas
Open enrollment in nearby states
Official sources: HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace; HealthCare.gov: special enrollment periods. HealthCare.gov is the federal Marketplace. FC Insurance Solutions is an independent, licensed brokerage and is not affiliated with any government agency.
Written by Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker in Texas and 30 other states, NPN 21032307. Last updated November 3, 2026.