- 7carriers selling 2026 marketplace plans in Harris County
- 121plans on the Harris shelf, from 32 bronze to 41 gold
- $592benchmark silver for a 40 year old in Harris, full price per month
Who sells marketplace plans in Harris County
Seven companies sell in Harris, against nine in the busiest Texas county I track and four in the thinnest. No single company dominates Harris County, where the largest lineup is 23 plans (Oscar) and the smallest is 7 (Imperial Insurance Companies).
| Carrier | Plans | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Network types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OscarOscar Insurance Company | 23 | 6 | 10 | 7 | EPO 12, HMO 11 |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas | 22 | 7 | 7 | 7 | HMO 13, POS 9 |
| Wellpoint | 21 | 7 | 7 | 6 | HMO 12, POS 9 |
| Ambetter from Superior HealthPlan | 18 | 0 | 10 | 8 | EPO 12, HMO 6 |
| Community Health Choice | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | HMO 15 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | HMO 15 |
| Imperial Insurance CompaniesImperial Insurance Companies, Inc. | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | HMO 7 |
Harris plan counts from the CMS 2026 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 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 | $293 | $375 | $795 | $749 | $1,197 |
| Lowest silver | $459 | $586 | $1,245 | $1,172 | $1,874 |
| Benchmark silver (second lowest) | $463 | $592 | $1,257 | $1,184 | $1,893 |
| Lowest gold | $392 | $502 | $1,065 | $1,003 | $1,604 |
Benchmark silver is the second lowest of the 46 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, $502 a month, is $85 cheaper than the cheapest silver plan at $586. 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 $3,300.
In Harris County the benchmark is $218 above the cheapest bronze at age 40, and 21 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 $592 benchmark minus what the government expects you to pay from your income. A 40 year old in Harris whose expected share is $218 a month or less would pay nothing for the cheapest bronze. At 60 the Harris gap grows to $462 and at 21 it shrinks to $170, which is why older enrollees are the ones most likely to find a $0 plan.
Compared with nearby Fort Bend County, the Harris benchmark is $57 lower at 40 and the cheapest bronze is $56 lower. 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 | 2 | 0 | |
| Bronze | 3 | 0 | $7,300 to $10,600 |
| Expanded Bronze | 29 | 3 | $0 to $9,800 |
| Silver | 46 | 3 | $0 to $7,500 |
| Gold | 41 | 3 | $0 to $3,300 |
| Total | 121 | 9 |
There is not a single PPO on the 2026 marketplace in Harris County. The 121 plans split into 79 HMO, 24 EPO and 18 POS. Outside emergencies, the 24 EPO and 79 HMO plans in Harris generally pay nothing out of network, so the network list matters more than the premium. 9 plans in Harris have a $0 medical deductible (3 expanded bronze, 3 silver and 3 gold). The 3 bronze ones among them still have out of pocket maximums of $10,150 to $10,600, 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 $592 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 2026 plans and prices for Harris County. The 2027 plans and prices are published around November 1, 2026, and I will update this page with the new Harris numbers then. 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.
Questions about Harris County coverage
How many health insurance companies sell marketplace plans in Harris County, Texas?
For 2026, seven carriers sell individual marketplace plans in Harris County: Oscar, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Wellpoint, Ambetter from Superior HealthPlan, Community Health Choice, UnitedHealthcare and Imperial Insurance Companies. Together they offer 121 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 $293 a month for a 21 year old, $375 at 40 and $795 at 60. In Harris a couple both aged 40 pays $749 for the cheapest bronze, and two 40 year olds with two children pay $1,197. Catastrophic plans in Harris, open only to people under 30 or with a hardship exemption, start at $351 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 2026?
The second lowest cost silver plan, the benchmark your subsidy is calculated from, is $592 a month for a 40 year old in Harris County before subsidies. In Harris it is $463 at age 21 and $1,257 at age 60, and the lowest silver plan is $586 at 40.
Is any insurance company leaving Harris County for 2027?
None of the seven carriers selling in Harris County in 2026 is one of the confirmed 2027 exits I flag for Texas, which are Cigna and Baylor Scott and White. Smaller changes can still happen, so read your renewal notice. The 2027 carrier lineup and prices for Harris are published around November 1, 2026, and I will update this page then.
Can I get a PPO plan in Harris County?
Not on the 2026 marketplace. All 121 plans in Harris County are HMO, EPO or POS plans. 9 of them have a $0 medical deductible, and the cheapest gold plan for a 40 year old in Harris is $502 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 2026 (public use file), Harris County rows
- HealthCare.gov, Health plan information for individuals and families
- healthinsurance.org, ACA open enrollment deadlines