If you’re still shopping for Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage ahead of today’s enrollment deadline, here’s a general idea of what monthly costs can look like for a Houston-area family and why your actual price could be much lower (or higher) depending on your situation.
During the pandemic years, many families were able to find Marketplace coverage for very low cost every month, largely because enhanced financial help lowered monthly premiums. Now, for some households, the monthly price tag can be significantly higher.
The deadline to enroll is today
Marketplace plans generally fall into three main pricing tiers: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. To show how wide the range can be, we ran a hypothetical scenario to create a very generalized estimate of what a family of four in Harris County might pay for a new ACA plan.
Example household (hypothetical):
- Two adults in their mid-40s
- Two children between 10 and 15 years old
- Living in Harris County
What follows are “could pay” ranges, not quotes.
Bronze plans (lowest premium, highest out-of-pocket costs)
Bronze plans typically offer the lowest monthly premiums, but they come with higher deductibles and more out-of-pocket costs when you need care.
Estimated range: ~$1,200–$1,800/month
Silver plans (middle premium; often best value with financial help)
Silver plans sit in the middle on monthly premiums. They’re often considered the best value for families who qualify for financial assistance, because additional savings can reduce deductibles and copays, not just the premium.
Estimated range: ~$1,500–$2,200/month
Gold plans (highest premium, lower deductibles, more predictable costs)
Gold plans cost more each month, but the tradeoff is lower deductibles and more predictable costs for doctor visits, prescriptions, and specialist care. This may make sense if you already know you’ll need frequent care.
Estimated range: ~$1,800–$2,800/month
Why your price will be very different
Holly Hernandez with Harris Health says exact pricing can vary widely based on factors like your ZIP code, carrier, and plan design, and crucially, whether you qualify for financial help.
She also warned that if people aren’t eligible for Premium Tax Credits and the costs are too high, they may skip coverage altogether and end up in a “coverage gap.”
What to do today
Even if those ranges sound steep, the reality is you could pay much less once you factor in Premium Tax Credits and other savings you might qualify for.
Your best move before the deadline:
- Go to HealthCare.gov
- Enter your household details
- Compare Bronze, Silver, and Gold options
- Review what credits/savings you qualify for before choosing a plan
If you’re worried you won’t be able to afford health insurance this year, more guidance is available from Harris Health on what options may exist for people in that situation.
“If they’re a Harris County resident and they meet the income guidelines, they can apply for our Harris Health financial assistance program and access services through Harris Health,” explained Pollie Martinez, Senior Vice President of the Revenue Cycle at Harris Health. “The other thing is, with all the new federal guidelines, all hospitals are required to post the cost of services on their websites. So uninsured patients that can also search the different hospitals to see how much a service costs at one hospital compared to another.”