Texas open enrollment: dates, deadlines, and the mistakes that cost you
Open enrollment is the one window each year when any Texan can buy or change health insurance. Here's when it is, what to do during it, and what happens if you miss it.
When is open enrollment in Texas?
For ACA marketplace plans, open enrollment in Texas runs November 1 through January 15 each year.
- Enroll by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1.
- Enroll between December 16 and January 15 for coverage that starts February 1.
Miss January 15, and you generally can't buy a marketplace plan until the next November — unless you qualify for a special enrollment period.
What is a special enrollment period?
Certain life events open a 60-day window to enroll outside open enrollment:
- Losing other health coverage (job loss, aging off a parent's plan at 26, COBRA ending)
- Getting married or divorced
- Having or adopting a baby
- Moving to a new area with different plan options
- Changes in income that affect your subsidy eligibility
Losing coverage because you stopped paying premiums does not qualify you.
The five mistakes we see every year
1. Auto-renewing without checking
Plans change every year — premiums, networks, and drug formularies all shift. The plan that was best last year may be middling this year. Spend 20 minutes comparing.
2. Only looking at the premium
A $40/month plan with a $9,000 deductible and a narrow HMO network can cost you far more than a $180/month plan with a $2,000 deductible if you actually use care. Compare total cost: premium + deductible + out-of-pocket max.
3. Not checking your doctors and prescriptions
Before you enroll, verify your doctors are in-network and your medications are on the plan's formulary. Texas marketplace networks vary wildly between carriers.
4. Guessing your income
Your subsidy is based on estimated annual household income. Update it if your income changes during the year — otherwise you're settling up at tax time, in one direction or the other.
5. Waiting until January 14
Every year the marketplace slows to a crawl in the final days. Enroll by mid-December and your coverage starts January 1 with no drama.
What you'll need to enroll
- Social Security numbers for everyone on the application
- Employer and income information (pay stubs, prior-year tax return, or a reasonable self-employment estimate)
- Policy numbers for any current health plans
- A list of your doctors and regular prescriptions for network checking
The bottom line
Open enrollment is short, and the decisions stick for a year. Compare total costs, not just premiums, and verify your doctors before you commit. An independent agent can walk you through the options — and it costs you nothing, since agents are paid by the carriers, not by you.