Texas Open Enrollment 2027 for Individuals
Last updated November 3, 2026 · By Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker
Short answer
For individuals and couples 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 works on its own clock: if approved, it can start the first of any month, whether or not the window is open.
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.
For 2027 the subsidy line is $63,840 for one person and $86,560 for a couple; above it, every metal level is full price. Bronze and catastrophic plans count as HSA-eligible starting with 2026 coverage, and the 2027 out-of-pocket cap is $12,000 for one person, which is the real worst case to compare.
Texas this year
Texas runs the nation's second-largest Marketplace, and about 15 insurers are in the 2027 lineup, with final rates averaging about 13 to 14 percent. The lineup is crowded in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio, while El Paso, West Texas and the Rio Grande Valley have fewer options. Many metro plans on HealthCare.gov are HMOs with narrow networks. With that many choices, last year's good deal may not hold. Gig workers, realtors and 1099 contractors who earn above $63,840 alone or $86,560 together pay full price for any plan they choose.
One thing to do before you choose
Now that Texas rates are final, re-shop this year using the actual prices on HealthCare.gov rather than assuming your current plan remains competitive. Check that the doctors you already use are in each network. For healthy Texans over the subsidy line, I can show a Marketplace plan and a private plan side by side, in English or Spanish; the private one depends on health approval, is not an ACA plan, and its benefits vary.
Your checklist
- Each plan's network type in your Texas ZIP code
- The out-of-pocket maximum next to the premium
- Your 2027 income against the one- or two-person line
- Bronze with an HSA if you rarely need care
Private plan or Marketplace?
Private plan
Healthy single adults or couples above the line: priced on age, ZIP code and health. Approval depends on health answers; not an ACA Marketplace plan.
Marketplace
A health condition or income under the line: HealthCare.gov must accept you, and the subsidy can lower the price.
Compare Texas plans this open enrollment
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), 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.
I'm a single oilfield contractor in West Texas whose income moves with prices. What income should I put down for 2027?
Base the estimate on a realistic full year rather than your strongest month, since a single person just over $63,840 gets no subsidy at all. Report mid-year swings on HealthCare.gov as they happen. If you end up well above the line, you pay full price either way, so compare every plan in your county.
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
- Texas open enrollment 2027: dates and options
- Texas open enrollment for self-employed
- Texas open enrollment for families
- Texas open enrollment for early retirees
- Texas open enrollment for small business owners
- Texas open enrollment for people between jobs
- Texas open enrollment for people over the subsidy line
- Texas open enrollment for marketplace renewals
- Private health insurance in Texas
- Texas health insurance quotes
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.