If you buy your own health insurance in Texas — no employer plan, or you drive, deliver, clean, cut hair, or run your own small business — this fall matters more than most. Open enrollment for 2027 Marketplace coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027, and two things are different this year: the bigger tax credits that kept premiums low are gone, and insurers are asking for another round of double-digit price increases. This checklist walks through what changed, what it means for a San Antonio household, and the exact dates you cannot miss.
The dates that matter
- November 1, 2026: Open enrollment opens on HealthCare.gov. You can sign up, switch plans, or update your income estimate.
- December 15, 2026: The deadline that actually matters most. Enroll or change plans by this date for coverage that starts January 1, 2027.
- January 15, 2027: Open enrollment closes. Plans picked between December 16 and January 15 start February 1 instead.
One warning that is new this year: the year-round special signup that used to exist for lower-income enrollees has been eliminated. If you miss the January 15 deadline, there is no monthly fall-back — most people would have to wait for a major life change (losing other coverage, a move, a baby) or go uninsured until the next enrollment window. Treat December 15 as your real deadline.
Why your premium is probably going up
From 2021 through 2025, “enhanced” premium tax credits made Marketplace plans cheaper for almost everyone and removed the income ceiling entirely. Those enhanced credits expired on December 31, 2025 and were not renewed. For 2026, the average enrollee’s monthly premium payment rose about 58% — from roughly $113 to $178 a month — and insurers have proposed a median increase of about 15% more for 2027, the second straight double-digit year. Deductibles are at record levels too, averaging around $3,786 in 2026, and the most anyone can be charged out of pocket in 2027 is capped at $12,000 for an individual and $24,000 for a family.
The honest part: help has not disappeared. The standard premium tax credit still exists for households earning between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, and most enrollees still receive some help. What changed is the size of the help — and one hard edge, explained next.
The 400% cliff is back — check your income estimate
Before 2021, and again now, the premium tax credit stops completely above 400% of the poverty level. There is no gradual phase-out: earn one dollar over the line and the credit drops to zero. For rough orientation, 400% of poverty is about $63,840 a year for a single person and about $132,000 for a family of four (based on 2026 guidelines — confirm your exact figure on HealthCare.gov, because it updates).
This is the trap for gig workers, drivers, and the self-employed around San Antonio: your income is an estimate, and a good year — a raise, a bonus, steady side work — can push a household over the line. If that happens, the credit you received all year can be owed back at tax time. Two habits protect you:
- Update your income estimate on HealthCare.gov whenever it changes, not just at enrollment. A mid-year update adjusts your monthly credit so there is no surprise bill later.
- If you are near the line, get free help before you enroll (see the links below). A trained assister can walk through how bonuses, overtime, and self-employment income are counted.
Do not just let your plan auto-renew
Auto-renewal feels easy and is exactly how people get a January premium they did not expect. Your current plan may cost more in 2027, its doctor network may change, or the plan may not be offered at all. Because the credit formula changed, the plan that was cheapest for you in 2026 may not be cheapest in 2027 — in some cases a different metal tier wins once the smaller credit is applied. Before December 15:
- Log in to HealthCare.gov and confirm your household, address, and income estimate are current.
- Check that your doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions are still covered by your current plan for 2027.
- Compare the total cost — a year of premiums plus the deductible — not just the monthly premium.
- If you qualify for Medicaid or CHIP instead, apply any time of year; those programs do not follow the open-enrollment window. Our free benefits eligibility checker takes two minutes and shows what you may qualify for.
65 or older? Different window, different rules
Marketplace enrollment is for people under 65. If you are on Medicare, your window is the Annual Enrollment Period — October 15 to December 7 — and the plan changes are just as significant this year. See our San Antonio Medicare open enrollment guide for the 2027 plan changes, and do not let anyone switch your Medicare plan through a Marketplace application.
Frequently asked questions
When is open enrollment for 2027 health insurance in Texas?
November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. Enroll by December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027.
Did the extra ACA subsidies really end?
Yes. The enhanced premium tax credits that ran from 2021 through 2025 expired on December 31, 2025. The standard tax credit remains for households between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level.
What if my income goes over 400% of poverty?
For 2027, households above that line receive no premium tax credit at all — the drop is sudden, not gradual. Keeping your income estimate updated on HealthCare.gov during the year is the best protection against owing credit back at tax time.
What happens if I miss January 15?
Outside of a qualifying life change, you generally cannot buy Marketplace coverage until the next open enrollment. The old year-round signup for lower-income enrollees no longer exists. Medicaid and CHIP accept applications year-round.
Is help with enrolling really free?
Yes. The Marketplace Call Center (1-800-318-2596) is free and open 24 hours a day, and local assisters listed on HealthCare.gov do not charge and do not sell plans. Be cautious with anyone who charges a fee just to enroll you.
Helpful links & phone numbers
- HealthCare.gov: healthcare.gov — the official Marketplace: apply, compare 2027 plans, and update your income estimate.
- Marketplace Call Center: 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325) — free enrollment help, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week except holidays.
- Find local help: healthcare.gov/find-assistance — free, trained assisters and navigators in the San Antonio area who do not sell plans.
- Texas Medicaid & CHIP (Your Texas Benefits): yourtexasbenefits.com — year-round applications for Medicaid and CHIP; or dial 2-1-1 from any Texas phone for free local help.
- Texas HICAP (for readers nearing 65): Texas Health and Human Services — free Medicare counseling, Texas Medicare Help Line 1-800-252-9240.
- Apply for Me (San Antonio Benefits): sanantoniobenefits.com/apply-for-me — free matching to food, rent, utility, and healthcare programs, with a step-by-step guide emailed to you.
Health insurance is one bill — check the others too
A higher premium squeezes everything else in the budget. If money is tight this year, you may qualify for free help you have not claimed yet — food assistance, utility discounts, Medicaid, or help with rent. Our free Apply for Me service matches San Antonio households to the programs they qualify for and emails a personal step-by-step guide: Apply for Me — sanantoniobenefits.com. Drivers and gig workers can also compare notes with the San Antonio Drivers Club on managing self-employment income and taxes.
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