Texas open enrollment 2027 Open enrollment · Texas

Texas Open Enrollment 2027 for Families

Last updated November 3, 2026 · By Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker

Short answer

For families buying their own coverage in Texas, open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov, and December 15 is the date to choose by for a January 1 start. A private, medically underwritten plan for the household does not wait for the window either: if approved, it can start the first of any month.

What 2027 looks like for you

Texas's average 2027 rate change is 13.1% to 14.1% (finalized). Two insurers are leaving Texas's individual market, so some renewals arrive as a plan you did not pick. The details are on the Texas 2027 premium increase page.

The 2027 subsidy line rises with household size: $109,280 for a household of three, $132,000 for four, and higher for larger families. Marketplace plans charge for at most three children under 21, so a bigger family's premium stops growing after the third child. Texas parents above the line pay full price at every metal level, which is when a side-by-side comparison matters most.

Texas this year

Texas has the second-largest Marketplace in the country and about 15 insurers, so families in Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin face a crowded lineup, while El Paso, West Texas and the Rio Grande Valley have fewer choices. The approved 2027 average runs about 13 to 14 percent, slightly under the national pace. With so many plans, last year's good value may not hold, and plans in the same metal level can differ widely in network and price. Texans can enroll on HealthCare.gov any day through January 15. Small employers face about 16.9 percent on group renewals, and four people above $132,000 get no subsidy.

One thing to do before you choose

Families with several children should compare how each option prices the kids. On the Marketplace, no more than three children under 21 are charged, while a private plan rates every person individually by age, health and location. In El Paso and the Valley, start by checking which plans are even sold in your county. I review Texas renewals in Spanish or English, by phone or video.

Your checklist

Each family member's doctors and the children's hospital you use
The family deductible and out-of-pocket maximum
Household income against your household-size line
Planned 2027 care: a pregnancy, braces or surgery

Private plan or Marketplace?

Private plan

Whole household healthy, income above the line: each person is approved on their own health answers; not an ACA Marketplace plan.

Marketplace

Ongoing care for a child or parent, or income under the line: HealthCare.gov accepts everyone, and the subsidy grows with household size.

Compare Texas plans this open enrollment

Private plans priced first, the Marketplace alongside when it fits. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee.

Get a quote Book a call (786) 218-2384

About your broker

Frank Caballero (NPN 21032307), licensed in 31 states including Texas. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee; independent, not HealthCare.gov or any government agency.

Questions

When is the 2027 open enrollment deadline in Texas?

January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. Choose by December 15, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1; plans picked after that start February 1.

We're a Houston family of seven. Is a private plan or the Marketplace a better fit?

It depends on income and health. On the Marketplace, only three kids under 21 carry a premium, which helps big families. Private coverage, which is separate from the ACA Marketplace, prices each family member and is issued only after the insurer reviews your health history. Comparing both with your actual numbers is the only way to know.

Can I get a private plan in Texas after open enrollment closes?

Yes. You can apply in any month and, if approved, a private plan can start the first of a month; the insurer can decline based on health answers.

More for Texas

Official sources: HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace; HealthCare.gov: special enrollment periods. 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.