Texas insurance resources

Official government and regulator sources

Start with these when you need the authoritative answer. They are the complete picture of what is available to you, and they are free to use on your own.

• HealthCare.gov — https://www.healthcare.gov (Texas uses the federally facilitated Health Insurance Marketplace. Official Marketplace information and enrollment live at HealthCare.gov.)
• Medicare.gov — https://www.medicare.gov (Official Medicare information, plan finder tools, and all options available in your area.)
• Texas Department of Insurance — https://www.tdi.texas.gov (The state regulator for insurance in Texas, with consumer help lines and company license lookups.)

ACA and Marketplace health coverage

Texas uses the federally facilitated Health Insurance Marketplace, so applications, eligibility determinations, and official plan details live at HealthCare.gov. Our guides explain how the pieces fit together so the official site is easier to work through.

• How Marketplace plans are structured, and what the deductible and out-of-pocket maximum actually control.
• How eligibility for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions is determined when you apply.
• What to do when you have an offer of employer coverage and are weighing individual options.

Medicare

Medicare rules are federal, but the plans offered in a Texas county change from year to year. Use Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE for the full list of options, and our guides to understand the vocabulary before you compare.

• What Parts A, B, C, and D cover, and where prescription coverage fits.
• How Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with a supplement differ in networks, referrals, and cost structure.
• Which enrollment windows exist, and where to confirm the current dates for your situation.

Dental and vision

Adult dental and vision benefits are usually separate from major medical coverage. Because plan designs differ so much, the benefit summary is the document that matters.

• Check how preventive, basic, and major dental services are treated, and whether waiting periods apply.
• Check whether an annual maximum applies and how it interacts with larger procedures.
• For vision, compare the exam benefit and the frame, lens, or contact allowance schedule.

Life insurance and final expense

Life insurance is underwritten, so eligibility and pricing are individual. These guides cover the structural questions — term versus permanent, what a policy is meant to replace, and what an application involves.

• Term coverage protects a defined period; permanent coverage is designed to last for life and may build cash value.
• Rather than a rule of thumb, add up debts, a mortgage, the years of income your household would need, and final expenses.
• Final expense policies are smaller permanent policies aimed at funeral and end-of-life costs; get local estimates before choosing an amount.

Preparing to enroll

Enrollment goes faster when the basics are gathered first. Confirm current enrollment dates on HealthCare.gov or Medicare.gov — this page does not publish deadlines because they change.

• Your ZIP code and county, and who in the household needs coverage.
• The doctors, clinics, and hospitals you want to keep using.
• Your prescriptions, by name and dosage, so drug coverage can be checked properly.
• A general monthly budget, and how you would prefer to be contacted.

Checking providers and networks

No agency can promise that a specific doctor, hospital, or pharmacy participates in a specific plan. Verification is done directly, and it is worth doing before you enroll.

• Search the plan's own provider directory for each doctor and facility you use.
• Call the provider's billing office and ask whether they are in network for that exact plan and year.
• Check the plan's drug list for each prescription, including tier and any prior authorization.
• Ask how out-of-network care and referrals are handled before you need them.

Sharing information safely

The forms on this site are request forms, not applications. Keep sensitive identifiers out of them; those details belong in a direct, verified conversation.

• Do not send Social Security numbers, Medicare ID numbers, dates of birth, income figures, diagnoses, or prescription details through this website.
• You choose the contact method, and text messages are only sent when you consent on the form.
• You can verify an agent's or company's license with the Texas Department of Insurance before sharing anything.

Guides, articles, and answers on this site

Our written explainers and question-and-answer pages sit alongside the official sources. Start with whichever matches how you like to read.

Talk with a licensed Texas agent

Call or text (346) 888-8811. Office: 5900 Balcones Drive, Ste 100, Austin, TX 78731. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Licensed in Texas. Guidance available in English and Spanish.