Obamacare in Texas, without the confusion
We calculate your subsidy, compare plans, and keep you from owing the IRS money over a badly estimated credit. At no cost to you — a licensed Texas insurance agent handles your case.
What we help you with
- Calculating your subsidy (premium tax credit)
- Comparing Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum plans
- Enrollment during Open Enrollment or your Special Enrollment
- Help with your Form 1095-A when it arrives in January
Insurance agent licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance
Seven days a week
What is Obamacare, and how does the Marketplace work in Texas?
“Obamacare” is the popular name for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the 2010 federal law that created the health insurance Marketplace and the subsidies (premium tax credits) that make coverage affordable for more families. Texas has no state marketplace of its own: all enrollment runs through healthcare.gov, the federal site.
Texas is also one of the states that did not expand Medicaid. That means a childless adult under 65 without a disability doesn’t qualify for Medicaid on income, whatever they earn, and for parents the limit is only a few hundred dollars a month — so many families who would have Medicaid elsewhere depend directly on the Marketplace, with a subsidy, for their health coverage. If household income is below 100% of FPL, there’s neither Medicaid nor a subsidy: that’s the coverage gap. In practice, the Marketplace is the main option for most families here without employer insurance.
Who qualifies for a subsidy in Texas, and how much?
Your subsidy (premium tax credit) is calculated from your household size and your estimated income for the year. These are the reference ranges for 2027 coverage:
| Household size | Minimum income for subsidy | Maximum income for subsidy |
|---|---|---|
| Household of 1 | ~$15,960 | ~$63,840 |
| Household of 2 | ~$21,640 | ~$86,560 |
| Household of 3 | ~$27,320 | ~$109,280 |
| Household of 4 | ~$33,000 | ~$132,000 |
Approximate figures based on the 2026 federal poverty guidelines (FPL) published by HHS, which are the ones used for 2027 coverage: the minimum is 100% of FPL and the maximum is 400%. The enhanced subsidies that had removed that cap expired on December 31, 2025, and as of September 2026 Congress hasn’t renewed them. With TPS, asylum, refugee status or a visa, you can buy a plan for 2027, but without a subsidy. Your exact number depends on your situation — we calculate it for free.
Open Enrollment, Special Enrollment, and how we walk you through it
Six steps, from the deadline to an active plan.
Open Enrollment
For 2027 coverage, the general window runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15 and coverage starts January 1; enroll after, and it starts February 1.
Special Enrollment
A life change — losing employer coverage, marriage, a new baby, a move — opens a 60-day window to enroll outside the general period. Changing jobs doesn’t open it on its own.
Income estimation
We project your year’s income carefully. Over- or under-estimating is what produces a surprise repayment or refund at tax time.
Plan selection
We compare Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum based on how often you see a doctor and how much deductible you can carry.
Enrollment and verification
We gather what the Marketplace asks for — identification, proof of income, each member’s immigration status — and submit your application.
Follow-through during the year
If your income changes — new job, more hours, a business taking off — we update your estimate so April’s reconciliation doesn’t catch you off guard.
Form 1095-A and how it affects your return
If you carry a Marketplace plan, you get a Form 1095-A every year: it shows up in your healthcare.gov account between mid-January and February 1, and by mail no later than mid-February. It’s not optional: the IRS matches it against your tax return, and leaving it out holds up your refund.
During the year, the government advances you the subsidy calculated on the income you estimated. At tax time comes the reconciliation: if your real income was different, the adjustment can go your way — a bigger refund — or against you: if you earned more than you estimated, you repay all of the excess subsidy to the IRS. Starting with 2026 tax returns, there’s no cap on that repayment, whatever your income.
That’s why we adjust your income estimate during the year as things change — a new job, more hours, a business taking off — so the April surprise stays as small as possible. And when your 1095-A arrives, we help you file it correctly. See Tax Preparation →
What if you don’t qualify for the Marketplace, or the subsidy isn’t enough?
Not everyone lands on the same plan. These are the most common alternatives we review with you:
Private plans outside the Marketplace
Some carriers sell medical policies directly to consumers, without going through healthcare.gov. No federal subsidy applies, but they can make sense if your income is high or your immigration situation keeps you out of the Marketplace.
Catastrophic plans
If you’re under 30, or qualify through economic hardship, there’s a very-low-premium plan built to cover serious emergencies — not frequent medical use.
Community care and low-cost clinics
In Austin, the Travis County Healthcare District (Central Health / MAP) offers low-cost medical care based on income, regardless of immigration status — a real option while you sort out coverage.
Can I enroll without an SSN? Mixed-status families
The federal Marketplace generally requires a Social Security number or an eligible immigration status to enroll the policy holder. But mixed-status families are very common in Texas: parents without an SSN, children with citizenship or residency.
In those cases, the eligible members of the household — typically U.S. citizen children — can enroll in the Marketplace and apply for a subsidy, even when the rest of the family doesn’t qualify. The Marketplace only asks about the immigration status of the people enrolling, not the rest of the household. The rest can look at direct private plans or the community resources above.
The ITIN is for more than taxes — it matters for your coverage too
If you or a family member needs a first ITIN, we coordinate it together with your health coverage review, in the same consultation.
Obamacare-in-Texas questions, answered
What’s the cheapest Obamacare plan in Texas?
Can I change plans mid-year?
What happens if I don’t enroll at all?
Does the Marketplace cover dental and vision?
Are there subsidies if I run a business (LLC, self-employed)?
How much does your advisory service cost?
Do you serve Austin specifically?
Get your free Obamacare quote
Ten minutes over WhatsApp: your subsidy calculated, your plan options compared, and no cost for the advice — ever.