- 8carriers selling 2027 marketplace plans in Harris County
- 140plans on the Harris shelf, from 37 bronze to 47 gold
- $669benchmark silver for a 40 year old in Harris, full price per month
Who sells marketplace plans in Harris County
Eight companies sell in Harris, against nine in the busiest Texas county I track and three in the thinnest. No single company dominates Harris County, where the largest lineup is 28 plans (Oscar) and the smallest is 4 (Harbor Health).
| Carrier | Plans | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Network types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OscarOscar Insurance Company | 28 | 7 | 11 | 10 | EPO 14, HMO 14 |
| Ambetter from Superior HealthPlan | 24 | 4 | 12 | 8 | EPO 17, HMO 7 |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas | 23 | 6 | 7 | 7 | HMO 14, POS 9 |
| Wellpoint | 23 | 8 | 7 | 7 | HMO 14, POS 9 |
| Community Health Choice | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | HMO 15 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | HMO 15 |
| Imperial Insurance CompaniesImperial Insurance Companies, Inc. | 8 | 2 | 2 | 3 | HMO 8 |
| Harbor Health New for 2027 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | HMO 4 |
Harris plan counts from the CMS 2027 landscape file (county FIPS 48201, Rating Area 10). Bronze includes expanded bronze, and companies CMS lists under more than one legal issuer are grouped with the legal names underneath.
What changed in Harris County for 2027
New in Harris for 2027: Harbor Health. Harris now has eight carriers and 140 plans, against seven carriers and 121 plans in 2026.
What it costs in Harris County before any subsidy
These are the full monthly prices, before any premium tax credit, for the cheapest Harris plan at each metal level. I show the sticker price because it is what your subsidy is subtracted from, and most people who enroll in Harris pay less, often a lot less.
| Monthly premium, full price | Age 21 | Age 40 | Age 60 | Couple, both 40 | Couple 40 + 2 kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest bronze | $351 | $449 | $953 | $898 | $1,436 |
| Lowest silver | $514 | $656 | $1,394 | $1,313 | $2,099 |
| Benchmark silver (second lowest) | $523 | $669 | $1,420 | $1,338 | $2,138 |
| Lowest gold | $468 | $598 | $1,270 | $1,196 | $1,912 |
Benchmark silver is the second lowest of the 51 silver premiums listed for Harris. The last column is two adults aged 40 plus two children.
What these numbers mean if you live in Harris County
The gold row is the surprise in Harris County. The cheapest gold plan for a 40 year old, $598 a month, is $59 cheaper than the cheapest silver plan at $656. That happens because Texas carriers load the cost of the extra silver discounts into silver premiums. If your income is too high for those discounts, silver is the worst value on the Harris shelf, and a gold deductible here tops out at $2,750.
In Harris County the benchmark is $220 above the cheapest bronze at age 40, and 28 of the other 78 counties and parishes I track have a wider one. That gap decides whether bronze can be free, because your subsidy is the $669 benchmark minus what the government expects you to pay from your income. A 40 year old in Harris whose expected share is $220 a month or less would pay nothing for the cheapest bronze. At 60 the Harris gap grows to $467 and at 21 it shrinks to $172, which is why older enrollees are the ones most likely to find a $0 plan.
Prices barely differ between Harris and nearby Fort Bend County. The benchmark differs by $0 a month at 40 and the cheapest bronze by $27. Imperial Insurance Companies sells in Harris and not in Fort Bend County.
Harris plans by metal level, network and deductible
| Metal level | Plans | $0 deductible | Deductible range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | 5 | 0 | |
| Bronze | 2 | 0 | $9,500 to $11,750 |
| Expanded Bronze | 35 | 3 | $0 to $11,750 |
| Silver | 51 | 2 | $0 to $9,000 |
| Gold | 47 | 7 | $0 to $2,750 |
| Total | 140 | 12 |
There is not a single PPO on the 2027 marketplace in Harris County. The 140 plans split into 91 HMO, 31 EPO and 18 POS. Outside emergencies, the 31 EPO and 91 HMO plans in Harris generally pay nothing out of network, so the network list matters more than the premium. 12 plans in Harris have a $0 medical deductible (7 gold, 3 expanded bronze and 2 silver). The 3 bronze ones among them still have out of pocket maximums of $10,600 to $12,000, so a $0 deductible does not mean a small bill.
Every Harris price on this page is before subsidies, and most enrollees pay less. For a 40 year old in Harris the premium tax credit is measured against the $669 benchmark. Estimate your own subsidy, or send me your ZIP and I will run the Harris numbers for you.
2027 plans for Harris County
These are the 2027 plans and prices for Harris County, from the CMS plan file released at the end of October 2026. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage in Texas runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and December 15 is the last day to pick a plan that starts January 1. If you already have a Harris plan, compare before you let it renew, because your carrier and your benchmark may both have changed.
Questions about Harris County coverage
How many health insurance companies sell marketplace plans in Harris County, Texas?
For 2027, eight carriers sell individual marketplace plans in Harris County: Oscar, Ambetter from Superior HealthPlan, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Wellpoint, Community Health Choice, UnitedHealthcare, Imperial Insurance Companies and Harbor Health. Together they offer 140 plans across the metal levels, according to the CMS plan landscape file.
What is the cheapest health insurance in Harris County?
At full price before any subsidy, the cheapest bronze plan in Harris County is $351 a month for a 21 year old, $449 at 40 and $953 at 60. In Harris a couple both aged 40 pays $898 for the cheapest bronze, and two 40 year olds with two children pay $1,436. Catastrophic plans in Harris, open only to people under 30 or with a hardship exemption, start at $356 at age 21. Most people in Harris who qualify for a premium tax credit pay less than these prices.
What is the benchmark silver plan premium in Harris County for 2027?
The second lowest cost silver plan, the benchmark your subsidy is calculated from, is $669 a month for a 40 year old in Harris County before subsidies. In Harris it is $523 at age 21 and $1,420 at age 60, and the lowest silver plan is $656 at 40.
Did any insurance company leave Harris County for 2027?
No. Every carrier that sold plans in Harris County in 2026 also has plans there in the 2027 CMS plan file. New for 2027: Harbor Health. Plans and networks inside each company can still change, so read your renewal notice.
Can I get a PPO plan in Harris County?
Not on the 2027 marketplace. All 140 plans in Harris County are HMO, EPO or POS plans. 12 of them have a $0 medical deductible, and the cheapest gold plan for a 40 year old in Harris is $598 a month before subsidies.
More for Harris County residents
- Health insurance brokers in Texas, how to choose one and what it costs
- Every 2027 carrier change in Texas
- How Harris compares with the other 78 counties and parishes I track
- Estimate a Harris subsidy
Get your Harris County quote
Send me your ZIP and who needs coverage and I will compare every Harris plan you qualify for with your subsidy applied, free and with no pressure.
Get my free quote → Or book a callSources
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, QHP Landscape Individual Market Medical, plan year 2027 (public use file), Harris County rows
- HealthCare.gov, Health plan information for individuals and families
- healthinsurance.org, ACA open enrollment deadlines