Affordable health insurance may just be a few clicks away for Texans

It's time for Texans to take another look at the ACA Marketplace, available at HealthCare.gov. In the past, affordable plans may have seemed out of reach for many, but today, there is an abundance of affordable options - even free ones for millions of Texans.

Last year, more than 20 million Americans - including a record-breaking 3.5 million Texans - secured coverage through the ACA Marketplace. If you haven't explored your options, now is the time to see what's available.

With open enrollment underway through Jan. 15, 2025, the ACA Marketplace offers an incredible opportunity for Texans who lack health insurance. While Texas still has the highest uninsured rate in the nation - 16.4% of the population or nearly 5 million people - many may not realize just how affordable coverage in Texas has become.

In 2022, Texas 2036's research concluded that nearly 2 million uninsured Texans could qualify for free plans through the ACA Marketplace or programs like Medicaid or CHIP. That's 40% of our uninsured population who could get coverage at no cost to them. And for others, affordable premiums are within reach.

We recently searched premiums in Texas. That showed, for example, that a 40-year-old single person earning $37, 650 annually (250% of the Federal Poverty Level) can find surprisingly affordable plans. In counties like Harris, Bexar and El Paso, bronze plans are available as low as $0, while gold plans start at under $65 a month.

Texas also stands out for its unique approach to the ACA Marketplace, which makes it different from other states. Thanks to smart policymaking, including a bipartisan law passed in 2021, federal subsidies stretch further in Texas than in most other states.

The real challenge, however, is awareness. Too many Texans assume they earn too much to qualify or believe coverage is still unaffordable based on outdated premium prices. Or they simply may think the only way to attain coverage is through the government or an employer. That simply isn't the case in 2024. Premiums are dramatically less expensive for most Texans now than they were even a few years ago.

Last year's record enrollment proves that millions of Texans are starting to catch on, but we need to do more to spread the word. Affordable coverage provides peace of mind and financial security, protecting families from crushing medical debt.

If you're uninsured - or even if you're just curious - it's worth taking a moment to explore your options. Visit Health-Care.gov to learn more and enroll before the Jan. 15, 2025, deadline. You might be surprised by what you find.

Let's make 2025 the year we turn the page on Texas' uninsured story and ensure more Texans get the affordable health care they need.

Charles Miller is the Director of Health and Economic Mobility Policy at Texas 2036. Lone Star News Service is a paid press release and op-ed distribution service provided by Texas Press Association, one of the nation's oldest and largest newspaper trade associations, representing 376 paid-circulation newspapers in Texas. TPA does not endorse or sponsor any commercial product, service, or activity described in Lone Star press releases or op-eds. TPA a non-profit with the mission to promote the welfare of Texas newspapers, encourage higher standards of journalism and protect the public's right to know as an advocate of First Amendment liberties. Texas Press Service is a division of TPA which functions as a full-service print and digital advertising placement agency for agencies and businesses seeking to reach consumers in Texas and nationwide.