If you’re a Texan with a marketplace health plan, this is the headline to read carefully: two carriers are leaving the Texas ACA marketplace at the same time — Cigna and Baylor Scott & White Health Plan. Texas is the only state in the country losing two at once. If your plan is with either one, you’ll need a new plan for 2027. Take a breath, though — you have months of runway and a clear path forward. Here’s exactly what’s happening, what it means for your wallet, and what to do.

What’s happening

Two separate decisions are hitting Texas shoppers at the same moment:

• Cigna is exiting individual ACA marketplace plans in all 11 states it serves — Texas included — affecting about 369,000 members nationwide.
• Baylor Scott & White Health Plan is leaving both Medicaid and the individual marketplace in Texas, affecting roughly 100,000 Texas enrollees.

The two exits are unrelated, but they share the same backdrop: the enhanced federal subsidies that made marketplace plans so affordable since 2021 have expired, and premiums in Texas are climbing. That combination made the individual market a tougher place for carriers to compete — and Texans are caught in the middle. When you add up both exits, close to half a million Texans will be shopping for a new plan at the same time.

Am I affected?

You’re affected if your individual health plan is through Cigna or Baylor Scott & White Health Plan on the Texas marketplace. Not sure who your carrier is? Check your insurance card or log in to your HealthCare.gov account — the carrier name is right at the top. If your coverage comes through an employer, this doesn’t apply to you; it only affects individual marketplace plans.

What it actually means for your wallet

Losing a carrier isn’t just an inconvenience — it can quietly change what you pay and which doctors you can see. When you’re moved to a new plan, three things often shift at once: your network (your current doctor may not be in it), your deductible (how much you pay before coverage kicks in), and your drug coverage (your prescriptions may land in a different tier). That’s why a like-for-like “auto-match” can cost you more than the premium suggests. The goal isn’t just to find a plan — it’s to find the right plan for your doctors, your medications, and your budget.

The dates that matter

• Now – Dec 31, 2026: Your current plan is still fully active. Nothing changes mid-year.
• Nov 1, 2026: Open enrollment begins — compare 2027 plans.
• Dec 15, 2026: Enroll by this date for coverage that starts cleanly on Jan 1, 2027 (no gap).
• Jan 15, 2027: Final deadline to enroll for the year.

The goal is to have your new plan locked in by December 15 so you never spend a day uninsured.

Don’t just take the auto-match

When a carrier leaves, the marketplace may auto-assign you to a “similar” plan for 2027. The trouble is that similar can mean a different doctor network, a higher deductible, or different drug coverage. This is a moment to choose on purpose — not to let a computer choose for you.

Why so many Texans are looking at private plans

That’s exactly why, in 2026, a lot of people are choosing private options instead of the marketplace. For a lot of people who don’t qualify for subsidies, a private plan is most of the time actually cheaper. Private options also still offer PPO plans — which are getting hard to find on the marketplace these days. Marketplace networks keep getting narrower and narrower, with higher deductibles and higher max-out-of-pocket limits. With a private plan, you can build your own plan and decide your benefits — instead of taking whatever box the exchange hands you.

One thing to know: private plans are now largely income-based, and depending on your situation, some may require medical underwriting — meaning your health history can affect what you qualify for and what you pay. That’s where working with someone who lives in the private market every day pays off: I match you to the carrier and plan that fit your income, your health, and your budget, instead of leaving you to guess.

The big-name carriers didn’t disappear

Here’s what a lot of Texans don’t realize: the major, trusted carriers are still very much in the game — they often still offer private (off-exchange) options. Same names you know, a different door. A private plan isn’t tied to one exchange’s shrinking lineup, and it can be built around your real life: the network that includes your doctor, a deductible that fits your budget, and add-ons like critical illness or accident protection that the marketplace simply doesn’t let you customize.

Quick answers to what people ask me

Will I have a gap in coverage? No — as long as you choose a 2027 plan by December 15, 2026, your new coverage starts January 1 with no gap.

Do I have to use HealthCare.gov? Not necessarily. If you qualify for a subsidy, the marketplace may be your best deal. If you don’t, a private plan is often cheaper and more flexible. The honest answer is “let’s compare both.”

Can I keep my doctor? Often yes — but it depends on the plan’s network, which is exactly why this is worth reviewing instead of guessing.

What to do right now

1. Confirm your carrier — check your card or HealthCare.gov login.
2. Don’t cancel anything. Your plan runs through Dec 31, 2026.
3. Put Dec 15, 2026 on your calendar.
4. Map your 2027 options early — before the open-enrollment rush.

Let’s map your 2027 plan — no pressure

If you’re a Cigna or Baylor Scott & White member in Texas, don’t wait for the open-enrollment chaos. I work with private health insurance, so I can show you options the marketplace can’t — including PPO plans you can actually build around your needs. Send me your current coverage and I’ll walk you through your 2027 options in about 10 minutes.

Get my free coverage review →