How To Find the Best Health Insurance in Texas

You’ll want to shop around to find the ideal health insurance option in Texas, comparing multiple companies to get the best rate for your needs. There’s no tax penalty if you go without health insurance in the Lone Star State but getting coverage can better protect you from medical debt if you become sick or suffer an injury.

Keep reading to learn more about Texas health insurance, the cheapest plans, the health insurance cost in some of the state’s largest cities and what types of health care options are available.

On This Page

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  Is Health Insurance Required in Texas?

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  Texas Health Insurance Rankings

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  How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Texas?

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  What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in Texas by City?

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  Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Texas?

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  When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Texas?

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  What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Texas?

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  How To Get Health Insurance in Texas?

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  FAQs

Is Health Insurance Required in Texas?

Texas does not bring any penalties or fines against someone who doesn’t have health insurance.^[1] Starting in 2019, there is no longer a federal tax penalty if you do not have health insurance but there may still be a state- or district-level penalty in other states.^[2]

Texas Health Insurance Rankings

The Commonwealth Fund ranked Texas 48 out of 51 in a holistic analysis of the health care systems in each U.S. state and Washington, D.C. Texas notably ranked last in terms of access and affordability for health care and low in other categories, such as reproductive health, women’s health, prevention and treatment. When considering all metrics, the state ranked third among four southwestern states, including Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma.^[3]

Below is an overview of Texas’s national rank in each of the dimensions analyzed by the Commonwealth Fund:^[3]

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Texas?

Marketplace benchmark plans cost $475 per month on average in Texas, slightly less expensive than the nationwide average of $477 per month. On average, Texans pay a monthly premium of $334 for the lowest-cost bronze plan available in the state, $468 for the lowest-cost silver plan and $409 for the lowest-cost gold plan.^[4]

Cheapest Health Insurance Options in Texas

The cheapest Texas health insurance options through the Marketplace will typically be in the bronze tier, notable for lower premiums and higher deductibles, copays and coinsurance. However, depending on your needs, you may want to consider a higher-tiered plan. For example, if you visit the doctor regularly due to a chronic condition or are expecting a series of treatments throughout the year, such as medically necessary weight loss surgery, you may benefit from a plan that offers lower out-of-pocket costs in exchange for a higher premium.

Health maintenance organization (HMO) plans are typically cheaper than preferred provider organization (PPO) plans but you may lose out on some benefits. For example, if you choose an HMO plan, you may need to acquire a referral from your primary care physician to see a specialist and can be more limited to in-network coverage for non-emergency care.

What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in Texas by City?

Below, we’ll go over the median monthly rates across all metal tiers for individual health insurance plans for 30-year-olds making $40,000 per year in five major cities in Texas before considering premium tax credits.^[5]

Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Texas?

Blue Cross Blue Shield offers the most affordable health insurance plans in Texas in the silver and gold tiers, while CHRISTUS has the lowest rates for catastrophic plans. Below is an overview of Texas health insurers with an average monthly premium below $500 for 40-year-olds buying silver plans.^[6]

When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Texas?

Texas residents can apply for health insurance through the federal Marketplace website during the standard open enrollment period from November 1 to January 15. However, any changes to your enrolled health insurance plan must be made by December 15 to receive that coverage by January 1 of the following year. If any changes are made after January 15, the final day to do so, the plan will begin on February 1 instead.^[7]

Enrollment outside the standard open enrollment period is possible, but typically only by triggering a special enrollment period after a qualifying life event. These qualifying events can include moving to a new address, having or adopting a child, getting married or losing employer-based health insurance coverage. Depending on the type of event, you typically are given 60 days before or following the event to enroll for health insurance coverage.^[8]

What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Texas?

Some of the major types of health insurance you can purchase in Texas include the following:

• Marketplace health plans
• Short-term health plans
• Private coverage directly from a provider
• Employer-sponsored group health insurance
• Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) continuation coverage
• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits
• Student health plans

How To Get Health Insurance in Texas?

You’ll want to gauge your options between different health insurance carriers by shopping around and gathering health insurance quotes from about three to five insurance providers to compare. You’ll typically need to gather quotes from each insurance company individually, which can become tedious.

You can speed up the process using an insurance marketplace such as SmartFinancial. By answering a few questions, we can connect you with one of our agents to help you find health insurance that meets your needs. Click here to get a free quote for a Texas health insurance plan today!