Free Health Insurance Texas 2027: $0 ACA Plans, Medicaid & CHIP
The Texas health insurance marketplace is HealthCare.gov, and open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15 for a January 1 start. Texas hasn't expanded Medicaid and the enhanced tax credits are gone, so your income decides whether a $0 plan is realistic. Here are the 2027 income limits, what Texas Medicaid and CHIP actually cover, and how to get covered without overpaying.
Get a Free 2027 Quote ↓Quick answer: For 2027 coverage, Texans earning $15,960 to $63,840 as a single adult can qualify for premium tax credits on HealthCare.gov, and at lower incomes some plans cost $0 a month. Open enrollment runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Texas has not expanded Medicaid, so most adults without children earning under $15,960 fall into a coverage gap.
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Free Health Insurance in Texas: What “Free” Really Means in 2027
The free health insurance Texas residents can actually get comes from three places. The first is a premium tax credit on the Texas health insurance marketplace, HealthCare.gov, which CMS lists as a federally facilitated Marketplace for plan year 2027. If your household income falls between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, the credit pays part or all of your monthly premium directly to the insurer, and at lower incomes that math can land on a $0 ACA plan. The second is Texas Medicaid and CHIP, run by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), which cover children, pregnant women, very-low-income parents, seniors and people with disabilities. The third is Healthy Texas Women, a no-cost women's health and family planning program. The same marketplace rules apply statewide, from Houston, Dallas and San Antonio to Austin, Fort Worth, Garland and Denton.
Here's what changed for 2027. The enhanced premium tax credits of 2021–2025 expired at the end of 2025, and under current law they are not back for 2027 unless Congress acts. Credits are smaller than in 2025, and the 400% FPL cliff is back: earn $1 over the line and your credit is $0. Texas also hasn't expanded Medicaid, so the income line at the bottom of the scale matters as much as the one at the top. Our open enrollment 2027 guide covers the national picture; this page is the Texas version.
FreedInsure LLC is an independent brokerage; its licensed agent, Constantino Lardi (NPN 20230457), is licensed in 42 states, Texas included. We project your 2027 income, calculate your credit, compare the $0 and low-cost ACA plans sold in your county, and enroll you — and our help is 100% free to you. Call (844) 788-3733 or see if you qualify.
Texas Health Insurance Income Limits for 2027
Marketplace savings for 2027 coverage are based on the 2026 federal poverty guidelines: $15,960 for one person, $27,320 for three and $33,000 for a family of four. The IRS sets how much of your income you're expected to pay for the benchmark Silver plan, and the tax credit covers the rest. Here's how $0 and low-cost health insurance in Texas prices out across the income scale.
| 2027 Household Income | Household of 1 | Household of 4 (approx.) | What You Typically Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 100% FPL | Below $15,960 | Below $33,000 | No marketplace credit, and Texas Medicaid has no full-coverage group for adults without children who aren't pregnant or disabled: this is the coverage gap (see below). Children, pregnant women and very-low-income parents may still qualify for Medicaid or CHIP. |
| 100–150% FPL | $15,960–$23,940 | $33,000–$49,500 | The biggest credits — you pay about 2.15%–4.30% of income for the benchmark Silver plan; a $0-premium bronze plan may be possible, and 94% CSR Silver plans are available |
| 150–200% FPL | $23,940–$31,920 | $49,500–$66,000 | You pay 4.30%–6.78% of income for benchmark Silver, plus 87% CSR Silver plans that shrink deductibles |
| 200–250% FPL | $31,920–$39,900 | $66,000–$82,500 | You pay 6.78%–8.66% of income; 73% CSR Silver plans still trim cost sharing |
| 250–400% FPL | $39,900–$63,840 | $82,500–$132,000 | Credits taper — you pay 8.66%–10.22% of income for the benchmark Silver plan |
| Over 400% FPL | Over $63,840 | Over $132,000 | No tax credit in 2027 under current law — full-price plans, so shopping smart matters most |
Family-of-four figures are derived from the 2026 guidelines, so treat them as approximate. Income means your projected 2027 household income — W-2 wages, 1099 and gig income, tips, self-employment, everything. Getting it right matters more than ever: for tax years after 2025 there is no cap on repaying excess advance credits, so a low estimate can mean paying back the full difference at tax time. Starting January 1, 2027, federal law also limits premium tax credits to fewer groups of lawfully present immigrants; green card holders, Cuban/Haitian entrants and COFA migrants remain eligible. Want a number now? Try the 2027 ACA subsidy calculator or read our full ACA income limits guide.
The $1 problem: at 400% of FPL — $63,840 for a single person — the 2027 credit stops cold. One extra dollar of projected income and the whole credit disappears. If you're anywhere near the line, read how to avoid the 2027 subsidy cliff before you enroll, or call (844) 788-3733 and we'll run the math free.
Did Texas Expand Medicaid? No — Here's What Texas Medicaid and CHIP Cover
Texas is one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid, according to KFF. Texas Medicaid and CHIP are run by HHSC, which describes them as health coverage for low-income children, families, seniors and people with disabilities. What's missing is the group expansion states add: working-age adults covered on income alone. HHSC's program list has no full-coverage group for adults without dependent children who aren't pregnant or disabled. These are HHSC's monthly income limits from the Texas Works Handbook. The children's and pregnancy amounts are dated March 1, 2026; the parent and caretaker limits are fixed dollar amounts, not a share of the poverty level:
| Texas Program (Income Limit) | Household of 2 | Household of 3 | Household of 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children's Medicaid, under age 1 (198% FPL) | $3,571 | $4,508 | $5,445 |
| Children's Medicaid, ages 1–5 (144% FPL) | $2,597 | $3,279 | $3,960 |
| Children's Medicaid, ages 6–18 (133% FPL) | $2,399 | $3,028 | $3,658 |
| CHIP, under age 19 (201% FPL) | $3,625 | $4,577 | $5,528 |
| Medicaid for Pregnant Women (198% FPL) | $3,571 | $4,508 | $5,445 |
| CHIP Perinatal (202% FPL) | $3,643 | $4,599 | $5,555 |
| Medicaid for Parents and Caretakers (one-parent household) | $196 | $230 | $277 |
| Adults without children (not pregnant or disabled) | No full-coverage group at any income | ||
All amounts are monthly household income. HHSC's consumer pages may still show older figures; these come from the Texas Works Handbook, and the amounts tied to the poverty level can change when Texas updates them for the 2027 poverty guidelines. The parent limit is the one that surprises people: a one-parent family of three loses parent Medicaid above $230 a month, about $2,760 a year. When a parent's earnings push the family over that line, Transitional Medicaid can continue coverage for 12 months, with income up to 185% FPL.
Free or low-cost coverage for Texas kids and pregnancies
Children are where Texas coverage is most generous. If a child's family income is too high for Children's Medicaid, HHSC automatically checks whether the child can get CHIP. CHIP enrollment fees are $50 or less per family per year ($0 at the lowest incomes), preventive care and shots have no copay, and children under 19 get 12 months of continuous eligibility in Medicaid and CHIP. Under a 2026 HHSC change, a missed Texas Health Steps checkup no longer costs a child Medicaid at renewal. Medicaid for Pregnant Women lasts during pregnancy and up to 12 months after the baby is born. CHIP Perinatal covers the unborn children of women who don't qualify for Medicaid, including because of immigration status, with no copays or enrollment fees.
The Texas coverage gap
HealthCare.gov explains the gap plainly: in a state that hasn't expanded Medicaid, adults with income below the federal poverty level who don't qualify under the state's current rules get neither Medicaid nor savings on a Marketplace plan. In Texas, a single adult without children who isn't disabled or pregnant gets no Medicaid at any income, and with income under $15,960 gets no marketplace credit either. For a one-parent family of three, parent Medicaid stops above $230 a month, but credits don't start until $27,320 a year; income between those two amounts falls in the gap. These Texans can still buy a marketplace plan, just at full price.
If that's you, three things genuinely help. First: apply anyway. HealthCare.gov says there may be options, particularly if you have children, are pregnant, or have a disability, and Texas Medicaid and CHIP accept applications any time of year. Second: count all your income. Marketplace eligibility uses projected annual income — W-2, 1099, gig work, side jobs, a spouse's pay — and a realistic projection at or above $15,960 for a single adult ($27,320 for a family of three) can qualify you for a credit. Third: community health centers charge on a sliding scale (find one at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov), and nonprofit hospitals run financial-assistance programs — ask before you pay any bill. We cover more options in can't afford health insurance and don't qualify for Medicaid, and our Medicaid income limits by state page shows how Texas compares with the 41 states (including DC) that have expanded Medicaid.
Healthy Texas Women
Healthy Texas Women provides women's health and family planning services at no cost to eligible women. It's a limited-benefit program, not full coverage: it pays only for the services it lists. You can apply if you're 18 to 44 (or 15 to 17 with a parent or guardian applying for you), live in Texas, are a U.S. citizen or qualified immigrant, aren't pregnant and don't have health insurance. The income limit is $2,716 a month for one person, $3,682 for two and $4,649 for three (effective March 1, 2026). Benefits last one year, with a renewal form sent before coverage ends, and HTW Plus adds postpartum services for up to 12 months after enrollment.
How to apply for Texas Medicaid, CHIP or Healthy Texas Women
Apply online at YourTexasBenefits.com, where an account lets you start, save and come back to your application (the Healthy Texas Women application works on desktop computers, not phones or tablets). Or call 2-1-1, pick a language and press 2; if you can't connect, call 1-877-541-7905. HealthCare.gov also tells people in states that haven't expanded Medicaid to fill out a Marketplace application anyway.
What changed for Texas Medicaid in 2026–2027
Starting October 1, 2026, HHSC says the only non-citizens who qualify for Texas Medicaid and CHIP are lawful permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and COFA migrants, with some exceptions: Texas keeps covering lawfully residing children under its CHIPRA 214 option, and Emergency Medicaid is not affected. The five-year wait for green card holders did not change. The federal Medicaid work requirement that starts January 1, 2027 applies to the Medicaid expansion adult group, and Texas has no expansion group.
We'll tell you the truth either way. Texas Medicaid, CHIP and Healthy Texas Women are state programs, not something we sell. If your kids, a pregnancy, or your family's income makes one of them your best option, we'll say so and point you to YourTexasBenefits.com — no charge. If a marketplace plan with a tax credit is the better path, we'll build it correctly and document your income projection. Ten minutes: (844) 788-3733.
$0 ACA Plans in Texas: Carriers & Plans for 2027
Texas's marketplace runs on HealthCare.gov, and every plan sold there is ACA-compliant: the 10 essential health benefits, no pre-existing condition exclusions, and preventive care at no cost. Who gets a $0 plan? Your credit equals the price of the benchmark Silver plan in your area minus your expected contribution, which for 2027 is 2.15% of income below 133% FPL and rises with income (IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26). Any plan priced at or below your credit — often a bronze plan — costs $0 a month. Carrier lineups vary by county and can change every plan year, so a statewide list can mislead you. Once open enrollment opens November 1, 2026, you can compare the 2027 plans for your ZIP code on HealthCare.gov. Before recommending anything, we confirm which carriers are actually selling 2027 plans in your county — and whether your doctors and prescriptions are in network.
Bronze
Lowest premiums — they can be $0 after credits at lower incomes — with the highest deductibles. Marketplace bronze plans now count as HSA-eligible, and the 2027 HSA limit is $4,500 for self-only coverage.
Silver
The sweet spot for most subsidy-eligible households. Between 100% and 200% FPL, Cost-Sharing Reductions cap the 2027 out-of-pocket maximum at $4,000 for a single person — richer-than-Gold coverage at a Silver price.
Gold
Higher premium, lower out-of-pocket. The smart pick when you know care is coming — a planned procedure, a pregnancy, ongoing prescriptions.
Add-Ons
Dental & vision, critical illness, and hospital indemnity plans stack alongside your ACA plan — often the difference between covered and comfortable.
One honest warning: a $0 premium is not $0 care. The 2027 out-of-pocket maximum for marketplace plans is $12,000 for an individual ($24,000 for a family), and $0-premium bronze plans usually carry high deductibles. Under about 250% FPL, a CSR Silver plan that costs a little each month is often the far better deal than the “free” one. That's the judgment call a broker exists for.
Over 400% FPL with no tax credit? Compare a full-price ACA plan with short-term health insurance in Texas. Missed January 15 with no qualifying life event? You generally can't buy an ACA plan until the next open enrollment, so ask us whether short-term coverage can bridge the gap. Short-term plans are temporary coverage that can cost less, but they are not ACA-compliant, are medically underwritten, can exclude pre-existing conditions and can't be paid for with a tax credit. If you have a pre-existing condition, are pregnant or take expensive medications, an ACA plan is usually the safer buy, so we'll show you both side by side.
Texas Open Enrollment 2027: Key Dates & How to Enroll
Texas uses the federal Marketplace, so the HealthCare.gov calendar applies: open enrollment runs November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027. December 15 is not the end of open enrollment in Texas; it's the cutoff for a January 1 start. Some states run their own exchanges and set their own dates, so if you're moving in or out of Texas, check our 2027 open enrollment deadlines by state.
November 1, 2026
Open enrollment opens on HealthCare.gov. Compare 2027 plans, premiums, and your new credit amount.
December 15, 2026
Last day to enroll for coverage that starts January 1, 2027. This is the deadline that matters most.
January 15, 2027
Open enrollment ends. Enroll between December 16 and January 15 and coverage starts February 1, 2027, so if you're uninsured now, you'd go without coverage in January.
After January 15
You'll need a qualifying life event (losing job coverage, losing Medicaid, moving, marriage, or a birth) to open a 60-day Special Enrollment Period.
Two details trip people up. Coverage starts only after you pay your first premium, so don't skip that step. And Texas Medicaid and CHIP aren't tied to open enrollment: you can apply any time of year. Questions about the Marketplace itself? The HealthCare.gov call center is 1-800-318-2596 (TTY 1-855-889-4325), and the Texas Department of Insurance consumer help line is 800-252-3439.
Enrolling through FreedInsure takes about 15 minutes: (1) we project your 2027 income precisely — the step that matters most in a non-expansion state with the cliff back, (2) we compare every plan in your county against your doctors and prescriptions, and (3) we submit the enrollment and stay on as your advisor all year. Same plans, same prices as going direct. Not sure where you land? Start with our see-if-you-qualify checker or call (844) 788-3733.
Straight talk on auto-renewal: if you already have a Texas marketplace plan and do nothing, you'll most likely be re-enrolled in the same or a similar plan. With the enhanced credits gone and premiums changing for 2027, last year's plan at last year's assumptions can be this year's overpay. Never let a plan auto-renew without a 15-minute re-shop — here's how to decide — and do it before December 15 so any change starts January 1.
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Free Health Insurance Texas FAQs for 2027
Sources
- Dates and deadlines for 2027 health insurance — HealthCare.gov
- Medicaid expansion & what it means for you — HealthCare.gov
- States by Marketplace Type for Plan Year 2027 — CMS
- Texas Works Handbook C-130: Medical Programs income limits — Texas Health and Human Services Commission
- MEPD and Texas Works Bulletin 26-15 (September 8, 2026) — Texas Health and Human Services Commission
- Healthy Texas Women program and income limits — Texas Health and Human Services Commission
- Rev. Proc. 2026-26: 2027 applicable percentage table — IRS
- 2027 maximum out-of-pocket and cost-sharing reduction parameters — CMS
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