58% of risk pool members pay less than $10 per month……………
Texas ACA Marketplace quick facts
- Type of Marketplace – Federally-facilitated Marketplace – (HealthCare.gov)
- Average monthly premium after subsidies (2025 plans) – $57/month
- Number of carriers offering 2026 plans – 16
- Consumers receiving <$10 premium after subsidies (2025 plans) – 58%
Who can buy Marketplace health insurance in Texas?
To qualify for health coverage through the Texas Marketplace, you must:
- Live in Texas
- Be lawfully present in the United States
- Not be incarcerated
- Not be enrolled in Medicare
Eligibility for financial assistance (premium subsidies and cost-sharing reductions) depends on your income. In addition, to qualify for financial assistance with the cost of your Marketplace plan you must:
- Not have access to affordable health coverage offered by an employer. If your employer offers coverage but you feel it’s too expensive, you can use our Employer Health Plan Affordability Calculator to see if you might qualify for premium subsidies in the Marketplace.
- Not be eligible for Medicaid or CHIP.
- Not be eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A.7
- If married, file a joint tax return.8
- Not be able to be claimed by someone else as a tax dependent.8
When can I enroll in an ACA-compliant plan in Texas?
In Texas, you can sign up for an ACA-compliant individual or family health plan from November 1 to January 15 during open enrollment.9
If you need your coverage to start on January 1, you must apply by December 15. If you apply between December 16 and January 15, your coverage will begin on February 1.10
Starting in the fall of 2026, for coverage effective in 2027 and future years, open enrollment will be shorter, ending on December 15, and all plans selected during open enrollment will take effect on January 1.
Outside of open enrollment, a special enrollment period (typically linked to a specific qualifying life event) is necessary to enroll or make changes to your coverage.
If you have questions about open enrollment, you can learn more in our comprehensive guide to open enrollment. We also have a comprehensive guide to special enrollment periods.
