Availability of short-term health insurance in Texas

Yes. As of early 2026, there are at least seven carriers offering short-term health insurance in Texas, but this number tends to fluctuate over time.

Texas statute limits short-term policies to initial terms of less than 12 months, and total duration, including renewals, of no more than 36 months.²

Starting in September 2024, federal rules implemented much shorter limits, capping short-term health insurance policy terms at no more than three months (four months, including renewals). But as noted above, the federal government announced in August 2025 that it was no longer prioritizing enforcement of that rule and encouraged states to follow suit.

As of early 2026, the Texas Department of Insurance website still indicated that short-term health insurance policies had terms of three months or less.³ The agency confirmed by phone that it was unaware of any state action regarding changing the allowable duration of short-term health insurance in Texas.

Most of the short-term policies for sale in Texas in February 2026 were limited to three or four months in total duration. But there was at least one carrier offering policies with 12-month durations.

Short-term health insurance in Texas is available to individuals and families who can meet the underwriting guidelines set forth by insurers.

Most short-term policies can be purchased by people who are under 65 years old and who do not have any of the short list of medical conditions that will result in a declined application.⁴ But the specific requirements vary from one insurance company to another.

Short-term health insurance plans typically do not cover any pre-existing conditions, and they often use post-claims underwriting. This means that if a claim is filed, the insurer can look at the person’s medical history to make sure the new claim isn’t related to a pre-existing medical condition.⁵

Short-term health plans also generally exclude coverage for some of the ACA’s essential health benefits (most commonly, maternity care, prescription drugs, and mental health care), ⁴and impose dollar limits on the coverage they do provide. It’s important to double-check all of the plan information before purchasing a short-term policy, to make sure that you understand the limitations of the plan.

If you’re in need of health insurance coverage in the Lone Star State, you should first check if you’re eligible to buy an ACA-compliant plan. These plans are available (regardless of medical history) during open enrollment or during a special enrollment period due to a qualifying life event.

Read more about special enrollment periods.

ACA-compliant major medical plan (ie, Obamacare plans) will cover essential health benefits and pre-existing conditions. These plans are purchased on a month-to-month basis, so you can enroll in one – with a premium subsidy if you’re eligible – even if you’re only going to need coverage for a few months before another policy takes effect.

From Amarillo to Brownsville, there may be times when a short-term health insurance plan is your only realistic option, such as:

• If you missed the open enrollment period for ACA-compliant (Obamacare) coverage and do not have a qualifying event that would trigger a special enrollment period.
• If you’re newly employed and have a waiting period of up to three months before you can enroll in your employer’s health plan. If you also have a qualifying life event, you can instead enroll in a health plan through the Texas Marketplace (exchange) while you wait for your new employer’s insurance coverage to start. If not, a short-term policy may be your best option.
• If you’ll soon be eligible for Medicare and need coverage for just a short while until you reach age 65 and are enrolled in Medicare. Note that while Medicare covers pre-existing conditions right away, Medigap insurers can require pre-existing condition waiting periods if an enrollee didn’t have coverage for their pre-existing conditions prior to enrolling in Medicare.
• If you’re not eligible for Medicaid (based on your monthly income) or a premium subsidy (based on your annual income) in the exchange, the monthly premiums for an ACA-compliant plan might be unaffordable. Texas does have a coverage gap, due to the state’s refusal to expand Medicaid under the ACA.