Christus Health Plan offers the cheapest health insurance in Texas at $553 per month on average, saving residents $145 monthly compared to the statewide average. Sendero Health Plans follows at $612 monthly ($86 in savings), and Community Health Choice ranks third at $616 ($82 in savings).
Cheapest Health Insurance in Texas: Affordable Plans for 2026
Updated: December 15, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Christus Health Plan, Sendero Health Plans and Community Health Choice have the cheapest health insurance in Texas, with average monthly rates ranging from $553 to $616.
Christus Health Plan offers the most affordable health insurance in Texas across most demographics and HMO plans ($553 monthly). Coverage for children averages $299 monthly, teens $357, young adults $400, adults $500 and seniors $1,061. Wellcare Health leads for POS plans ($712) and Community First for EPO plans ($658).
Cheapest Health Insurance Providers in Texas
Christus Health Plan | $553 | $145 | $6,636 | $1,740 |
Sendero Health Plans, Local Nonprofit | $612 | $86 | $7,344 | $1,032 |
Community Health Choice | $616 | $82 | $7,392 | $984 |
Imperial Insurance Companies | $618 | $80 | $7,416 | $960 |
Community First | $658 | $40 | $7,896 | $480 |
UnitedHealthcare | $662 | $36 | $7,944 | $432 |
Wellcare Health | $666 | $32 | $7,992 | $384 |
*Average monthly costs represent the mean of all plan rates for each provider in Texas, rounded to the nearest dollar. Monthly savings show the cost difference between each provider's average rate and the statewide benchmark.
Christus Health Plan
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
4.9/5Affordability
2.5/5Deductible
5/5MOOP
Average Monthly Rate
$553Average MOOP
$7,456Average Deductible
$5,313
Most Affordable Texas Health Insurance by Category
Your rate depends on your age, plan type and metal tier. Compare monthly premiums against deductibles and out-of-pocket limits to find the best health insurance provider.
Christus Health Plan offers the cheapest rates across most demographics in Texas. You'll pay higher deductibles ($5,313 average) and out-of-pocket limits ($7,456 average) for those low premiums.
Children | Christus Health Plan | $299 | $3,590 | $7,456 | $5,313 |
Teens | Christus Health Plan | $357 | $4,285 | $7,456 | $5,313 |
Young Adults | Christus Health Plan | $400 | $4,806 | $7,456 | $5,313 |
Adults | Christus Health Plan | $500 | $5,998 | $7,456 | $5,313 |
Seniors | Christus Health Plan | $1,061 | $12,737 | $7,456 | $5,313 |
HMO | Christus Health Plan | $553 | $6,636 | $7,456 | $5,313 |
POS | Wellcare Health | $712 | $8,550 | $6,555 | $2,524 |
EPO | Community First | $658 | $7,896 | $5,815 | $1,150 |
*These are average rates for all plan types and metal levels, with teens at 18, young adults at 26, adults at 40 and seniors at 60. For plan type costs, we used average rates for 40-year-olds.
Most Affordable Texas Health Insurance by Metal Level
Christus Health Plan leads Catastrophic coverage at $347 monthly and Expanded Bronze at $419 for 40-year-olds. Imperial Insurance Companies offers the cheapest Bronze plans at $438 monthly. Community First takes Gold at $546 monthly with a $750 deductible, while Sendero Health Plans has the lowest Silver rates at $633. Texas has no Platinum-tier plans.
Catastrophic | Christus Health Plan | $347 | $4,162 | $10,600 | $10,600 |
Expanded Bronze | Christus Health Plan | $419 | $5,031 | $7,575 | $6,493 |
Bronze | Imperial Insurance Companies | $438 | $5,254 | $6,900 | $6,900 |
Gold | Community First | $546 | $6,548 | $5,794 | $750 |
Silver | Sendero Health Plans, Local Nonprofit | $633 | $7,596 | $5,457 | $1,890 |
*These are average rates for 40-year-olds at each metal tier. Your actual rates vary by age, location and plan type.
Cheap Texas Health Insurance: Personalized Picks
Filter Texas health insurance plans by age, plan type and metal level to find rates that match your needs.
Data filtered by:
HMO
Silver
40
| Sendero Health Plans, Local Nonprofit | Sendero Health Capital Silver / $40 Pcp / $80 Specialist / $20 Generic Drugs | $608 | HMO | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 |
| Community Health Choice | Community Ultra Select Silver 020 (No Deductible For Pcp, Specialist, Urgent Care & Generics, $0 Pcp 24/7 Virtual Care Options) | $616 | HMO | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 |
| Community Health Choice | Community Ultra Select Silver 019 (No Deductible For Pcp, Specialist, Urgent Care & Generics, $0 Pcp 24/7 Virtual Care Options) | $617 | HMO | Silver | $5,586 | $2,543 | 40 |
| Community Health Choice | Community Select Silver 019 (No Deductible For Pcp, Specialist, Urgent Care & Generics, $0 Pcp 24/7 Virtual Care Options) | $618 | HMO | Silver | $5,586 | $2,543 | 40 |
| Sendero Health Plans, Local Nonprofit | Sendero Health Original Silver / $20 Pcp + 2 $0 Pcp Visits / $10 Generic Drugs | $625 | HMO | Silver | $4,921 | $2,571 | 40 |
| Christus Health Plan | Christus Value Silver 70 ($0 Virtual Urgent Care) | $632 | HMO | Silver | $3,654 | $3,654 | 40 |
| UnitedHealthcare | Uhc Sanitas Silver Value ($0 Virtual Urgent Care) | $636 | HMO | Silver | $4,850 | $1,671 | 40 |
| Christus Health Plan | Christus Value Silver 70 + Dental & Vision ($0 Virtual Urgent Care) | $651 | HMO | Silver | $3,654 | $3,654 | 40 |
| UnitedHealthcare | Uhc Sanitas Silver Copay Focus $0 Indiv Med Ded ($0 Virtual Urgent Care) | $654 | HMO | Silver | $5,643 | No Data | 40 |
| Christus Health Plan | Christus Standard Silver 70 ($0 Virtual Urgent Care) | $658 | HMO | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 |
How to Get Cheap Health Insurance in Texas
Texas health insurance rates vary widely. Use these strategies to find affordable coverage that meets your needs.
- 1Compare multiple metal tiers
Don't default to the cheapest Bronze or Catastrophic plan. Silver and Gold plans provide better value when you factor in lower deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, especially if you need regular medical care.
- 2Evaluate your actual health care needs
Review last year's health care spending. If you only visited the doctor twice and didn't need prescriptions, a high-deductible plan saves money. For example, if you spent $500 last year on two routine doctor visits and one urgent care trip, a Bronze plan with a $6,000 deductible might save you $150 monthly compared to a Gold plan.
- 3Consider HMO plans
HMO plans cost less than PPO options in Texas. You'll need to stay within the provider network, but Christus Health Plan and other HMO providers save you $100 or more monthly.
- 4Check for subsidies
Premium tax credits from the Health Insurance Marketplace reduce your monthly costs based on your income. Even middle-income families qualify for assistance. Check your eligibility before purchasing a plan.
- 5Shop during Open Enrollment
Open enrollment runs from November 1 to January 15 each year. Missing this window means waiting until next year unless you qualify for a special enrollment period due to major life changes like marriage, birth or job loss.
Cheapest Health Insurance in Texas: Bottom Line
Christus Health Plan is the cheapest health insurance provider in Texas, followed by Sendero Health Plans and Community Health Choice. Compare rates from all three insurers across metal tiers and plan types to find your lowest cost.
Affordable Health Insurance in Texas: FAQ
Answers to common questions about health insurance in Texas:
How do I get cheap health insurance in Texas?
Shop during open enrollment (November 1 to January 15) and compare plans from Christus Health Plan, Sendero Health Plans and Community Health Choice across multiple metal tiers. Check your eligibility for premium tax credits through the Health Insurance Marketplace. HMO plans cost less than PPO options in Texas.
How much does health insurance cost in Texas?
Health insurance in Texas costs an average of $698 monthly ($8,377 annually) across all plan types and metal levels. Monthly rates range from $208 to $2,085 depending on your age, coverage tier and plan type.
Does Texas require health insurance?
Texas doesn't require health insurance. The federal individual mandate penalty ended in 2019, so you won't face tax penalties for going uninsured. Coverage provides financial protection from high medical costs and covers preventive care and treatment.
Our Methodology
Comparing health insurance in Texas means sorting through multiple providers with different rate structures across age groups and plan types. We analyzed every available plan from federal marketplace data to identify which insurers offer the lowest premiums for Texas residents.
Research Approach
We collected premium data for five ages: 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. These ages show how rates change from young adult coverage through near-Medicare eligibility, revealing the full cost range Texas residents face at different life stages.
Why We Focus on 40-Year-Olds
Our primary affordability rankings use 40-year-old rates because this age sits at the midpoint of the working-age population in Texas. Using one consistent age removes variables and provides clear comparisons across providers without age distorting the results.
Age-Specific Rankings
We also ranked insurers separately at each age bracket. A provider that's cheapest for young adults might not be most affordable for someone near 60, so these age-specific rankings help you find the best rate for your life stage.
All data comes from federal sources and covers metal tiers and plan types available to Texas residents through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
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About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.