ALERT: Jan. 15 ACA enrollment deadline approaches
The Jan. 15 deadline to sign up for coverage for 2026 under the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace is fast approaching.
Marketplace plans remain an important tool in keeping Texans healthy by providing free preventative care, along with low or no out-of-pocket access to primary care, generic prescriptions, mental health services, and telehealth, even for plans with higher deductibles. These benefits help ensure that routine care remains accessible to families across the state.
Initial numbers released last month from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services indicated that Texans were signing up for Marketplace plans in numbers greater than in previous years.
A sizable majority of current ACA enrollees should be able to again find a plan that they can afford and it remains advisable that they research their coverage options via healthcare.gov.
A vital source of affordable health coverage
Texas 2036 research indicates that roughly 3.1 million ACA-enrolled Texans in 2025 earned incomes at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (about $30,000 for an individual or $60,000 for a family of four). Every current enrollee in this income range will again have access to at least one $0–premium plan in 2026.
We expect that Texans focused on finding $0 plans will shift enrollment away from Silver-tier plans (fewer of which will be available at $0 premium) and toward Bronze and Gold options. For lower-income families, who will still qualify for free coverage, enrollment should remain strong. Potential enrollees with incomes below 250% of the FPL should weigh the trade-offs between a higher monthly premium for silver-tier coverage, and the lower out-of-pocket expenses for care they may be eligible for if they enroll in a silver-tier plan.
Headlines about higher premiums, without mention of eligibility for free or low-cost plans, reinforce many Texans’ belief that health insurance is unaffordable, even when that is not the case. Our “Who are the Uninsured?” report found that for many Texans, the belief that they cannot afford coverage remains one of the biggest barriers to enrollment. Continued outreach and education will be key to helping families understand their choices and stay covered.