How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Texas? (2026 Rates)

MoneyGeek analyzed 2026 ACA Marketplace plan data across all 26 Texas rating areas. Texas health insurance plans are available in three major plan types: HMO, EPO, and POS. Each restricts or expands your provider access differently, and that difference shows up in your monthly premium.

POS plans have the highest premiums across every age bracket in our analysis, but age has a bigger impact on costs than plan type. At 40 years old, the gap between the cheapest HMO and most expensive POS plan is $119 per month. By 60, that gap grows to $252. HMO Silver premiums more than double from 40 to 60, rising from $739 to $1,569, a 112% increase.

* Rates shown are for Silver tier plans.

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plans require you to choose a primary care physician and get referrals to see specialists. That referral requirement comes with lower premiums than EPO and POS plans. A 40-year-old in Texas pays an average of $437 per month for a Catastrophic HMO plan, the lowest starting point across all metal tiers. Gold plans cost $637 with an average deductible of $1,137, while Silver plans cost $739 monthly with an average deductible of $2,791.

Texas HMO plans are available in five metal levels, including Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Catastrophic HMO plans are only available to adults under 30 or people with a qualifying hardship or affordability exemption.

Gold HMO plans ($637/month) are cheaper than Silver plans ($739/month), and they carry a much lower deductible ($1,137 vs. $2,791). If you use medical services regularly, Gold's lower deductible saves you more than the $102 monthly difference. Silver makes more sense if you qualify for Cost-Sharing Reduction subsidies, which are only available on Silver plans and can reduce your deductible below the $2,791 statewide average.

EPO (Exclusive Provider Organization) plans provide a middle ground between the referral requirements of HMOs and the flexibility of PPOs. You get specialist access without a referral, but you're locked into the network for all non-emergency care. EPO plans in Texas are only available at Expanded Bronze, Silver and Gold tiers. There are no Catastrophic or standard Bronze EPO options on the state Marketplace. For a 40-year-old.

EPO plans for a 40-year-old in Texas average $535 per month for Expanded Bronze, which is the only entry-level tier available for this plan type. Gold plans average $678 per month and come with a $1,184 deductible, which is less than half of Silver’s $2,720. Gold plans also cost $99 less per month than Silver plans, which average $777. There are no Catastrophic or standard Bronze EPO options on the state Marketplace.

For EPO shoppers, the Gold tier is unusually competitive. At $678 monthly, it's $99 cheaper than Silver while cutting the deductible from $2,720 to $1,184. That's a rare case where the higher metal tier costs less and exposes you to less cost-sharing. The tradeoff is a slightly higher out-of-pocket maximum ($5,920 vs. $5,707). For most enrollees, the lower monthly cost and lower deductible make Gold the stronger financial choice in this plan type.

POS (Point of Service) plans allow you to see out-of-network providers at a higher cost while still benefiting from coordinated care through a primary doctor. For a 40-year-old, Bronze and Expanded Bronze plans have lower premiums, averaging $548 and $535 per month respectively, but they come with higher deductibles and out-of-pocket limits. Gold plans cost $720 per month but offer lower deductibles and reduced overall cost-sharing.

POS plans are the most expensive Silver-tier option in Texas at $858 per month for 40-year-olds, but they have the lowest deductible of any plan type at $1,769. Compare that to $2,791 for HMO Silver and $2,720 for EPO Silver. That tradeoff makes POS Silver worth considering if you see specialists frequently, since out-of-network coverage is available when you need it. For most healthy enrollees, HMO plans deliver lower premiums with comparable in-network access.

Age, metal tier, rating area, tobacco use and plan type affect your Texas health insurance cost:

The average Silver HMO premium for a 40-year-old in Texas is $739 month, which is 10% higher than the national average of $663 for the same profile. Texas's large geographic footprint and 26 distinct rating areas create real rate differences across the state. If you're in a metro area like Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth you'll see rates closer to the statewide average, while enrollees in rural West Texas and the Rio Grande Valley can see premiums diverge by $100 or more per month for comparable coverage.

Texas POS plans diverge most sharply from the national baseline, running 30% above average. That gap reflects the limited availability of POS plans across the state. Fewer carriers offering POS coverage means less competition and higher premiums. Texas HMO and EPO plans are closer to national norms at 10% and 13% above average, which is consistent with Texas's overall higher health care cost environment. If you're price-sensitive and your doctors are in-network, an HMO plan brings you closest to what you'd pay in a lower-cost state.

* Rates shown are for 40-year-olds with Silver plans. Figures are statewide averages. Individual county rates vary.

The right plan depends on your health care needs and income level:

• If your income is between 100% and 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL), consider a Silver plan. Cost-sharing reduction (CSR) subsidies can lower deductibles from $2,791 to less than $1,000, making Silver plans a better value than their higher premiums suggest. Choosing Bronze solely for a lower monthly premium can lead to higher out-of-pocket costs when you need care.
• If you're healthy and rarely use medical services, a Bronze or Expanded Bronze HMO have the lowest cost. For example, a 40-year-old pays $493 per month for a Bronze HMO versus $739 for a Silver HMO, saving you $246 monthly. The trade-off is a much higher deductible if you need care.
• If you regularly see specialists or manage a chronic condition, Gold plans provide better value. In our data, a Gold HMO costs $637 per month, less than a Silver HMO at $739, with a lower deductible of $1,137.
• If you use tobacco: Tobacco surcharges apply regardless of plan type. The best way to reduce your health insurance costs is to quit before enrolling, since surcharges are based on tobacco use reported during enrollment.