Texas · Small group · 2027
Texas Small Group Health Insurance: 2027 Carriers, Plans and Rates
Four carriers filed 2027 small group plans in Texas, and two are leaving. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Baylor Scott & White, UnitedHealthcare and CHRISTUS Health Plan are selling. Memorial Hermann and Integon National (Allstate Benefits) are not.
Proposed 2027 increases by carrier: Baylor Scott & White +14.3% to +18.4%; UnitedHealthcare +16.1% to +16.4%; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas +19.2%. Regulators can still lower them.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is the only carrier with public 2027 rates. Baylor Scott & White, UnitedHealthcare and CHRISTUS Health Plan need a quote; their rate tables are not public.
Get quotes from all four carriersFree. We quote the carriers that didn't publish prices.
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What's changing for Texas small group health insurance in 2027?
Average proposed 2027 changes range from +14.3% to +19.2%, as filed. Your group's change also depends on employee ages and the plan you pick.
Houston’s Memorial Hermann is ending commercial small- and large-group plans. Last renewals ran through November 1, 2026; coverage ends by November 1, 2027.
Integon National, behind Allstate Benefits small-group plans in Texas, filed no 2027 small-group rates.
UnitedHealthcare got a new 2027 small-group EPO approved and filed average increases of about 16% on its two Texas companies.
Which carriers sell small group health plans in Texas?
| Carrier | Networks and plan types | Where it sells | 2027 plan designs | Proposed 2027 change | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas | Networks and plan typesBlue Advantage HMO, Blue Choice PPO | Where it sellsStatewide, all 27 rating areas | 2027 plan designs138 | Proposed 2027 change+19.2% | PricesPublic prices |
| Baylor Scott & WhiteHMO: Scott and White Health Plan · PPO: Baylor Scott & White Insurance Co. | Networks and plan typesHMO and PPO on the Baylor Scott & White system | Where it sellsCentral Texas counties served by the BSW system | 2027 plan designs85 | Proposed 2027 change+14.3% to +18.4% | PricesQuote only |
| UnitedHealthcareUnitedHealthcare Insurance Co. · UnitedHealthcare of Texas | Networks and plan typesChoice Essential, Choice Plus Essential, new 2027 EPO | Where it sellsNot published in public filings | 2027 plan designsNot public | Proposed 2027 change+16.1% to +16.4% | PricesQuote only |
| CHRISTUS Health Plan | Networks and plan typesCHRISTUS Health HMO (2027 Elite filing) | Where it sellsEast and Southeast Texas, Coastal Bend, Texarkana | 2027 plan designsNot public | Proposed 2027 change– | PricesQuote only |
| Memorial Hermann | Networks and plan typesMemorial Hermann HMO and PPO | Where it sellsGreater Houston | 2027 plan designs– | Proposed 2027 change– | PricesLeaving |
| Integon National (Allstate Benefits) | Networks and plan typesFully insured metal plans | Where it sellsStatewide | 2027 plan designs– | Proposed 2027 change– | PricesLeaving |
On a Memorial Hermann or Integon National (Allstate Benefits) plan?
Memorial Hermann is ending its commercial health plan business, including small-group HMO and PPO. Groups renewing on or after December 1, 2026 are non-renewed, and all coverage ends by November 1, 2027.
Integon National, which underwrote Allstate Benefits fully insured small-group plans in Texas, has no 2027 small-group rate filing. Broker bulletins describe an exit from fully insured small group after the Nationwide acquisition.
- Check your renewal date. It sets your deadline to move.
- Match your network. Compare Blue Cross, UnitedHealthcare and Baylor Scott & White on the hospitals your employees use.
- Tell employees early. The carrier notifies you and your broker; telling staff is up to you.
- Ask about continuity of care for anyone in active treatment.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas 2027 prices
Blue Cross is the only Texas carrier with public 2027 rates. Use these as a benchmark when you compare quotes from the others.
| Metal | Plans offered here | Lowest | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | Plans offered here12 | Lowest$523 | Median$757 | Highest$1,095 |
| Silver | Plans offered here64 | Lowest$591 | Median$862 | Highest$1,250 |
| Gold | Plans offered here42 | Lowest$714 | Median$1,014 | Highest$1,492 |
| Platinum | Plans offered here20 | Lowest$863 | Median$1,235 | Highest$1,764 |
How employee age changes the premium
| Metal | Age 21 | Age 30 | Age 40 | Age 50 | Age 60 | Age 64+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | Age 21$675 | Age 30$766 | Age 40$862 | Age 50$1,205 | Age 60$1,831 | Age 64+$2,024 |
| Gold | Age 21$793 | Age 30$900 | Age 40$1,014 | Age 50$1,417 | Age 60$2,153 | Age 64+$2,380 |
Lowest Blue Cross price in each of Texas's 27 rating areas
| Rating area | Lowest Bronze | Lowest Silver | Lowest Gold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area 1: Brown, Callahan, Coleman and 15 more | Lowest Bronze$552 | Lowest Silver$624 | Lowest Gold$754 |
| Area 2: Armstrong, Briscoe, Carson and 23 more | Lowest Bronze$479 | Lowest Silver$541 | Lowest Gold$654 |
| Area 3: Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet and 7 more | Lowest Bronze$572 | Lowest Silver$646 | Lowest Gold$781 |
| Area 4: Angelina, Hardin, Houston and 12 more | Lowest Bronze$460 | Lowest Silver$520 | Lowest Gold$628 |
| Area 5: Cameron, Kenedy, Willacy | Lowest Bronze$404 | Lowest Silver$456 | Lowest Gold$551 |
| Area 6: Brazos, Burleson, Grimes and 5 more | Lowest Bronze$513 | Lowest Silver$580 | Lowest Gold$700 |
| Area 7: Aransas, Bee, Jim Wells and 5 more | Lowest Bronze$481 | Lowest Silver$544 | Lowest Gold$657 |
| Area 8: Collin, Dallas, Ellis and 4 more | Lowest Bronze$541 | Lowest Silver$611 | Lowest Gold$738 |
| Area 9: Brewster, Culberson, El Paso and 3 more | Lowest Bronze$486 | Lowest Silver$549 | Lowest Gold$663 |
| Area 10: Galveston, Harris | Lowest Bronze$523 | Lowest Silver$591 | Lowest Gold$714 |
| Area 11: Bell, Coryell, Hamilton and 3 more | Lowest Bronze$528 | Lowest Silver$596 | Lowest Gold$720 |
| Area 12: Duval, Jim Hogg, McMullen and 2 more | Lowest Bronze$495 | Lowest Silver$560 | Lowest Gold$676 |
| Area 13: Gregg, Harrison, Marion and 3 more | Lowest Bronze$438 | Lowest Silver$495 | Lowest Gold$598 |
| Area 14: Bailey, Cochran, Crosby and 12 more | Lowest Bronze$505 | Lowest Silver$570 | Lowest Gold$689 |
| Area 15: Brooks, Hidalgo, Starr | Lowest Bronze$432 | Lowest Silver$488 | Lowest Gold$590 |
| Area 16: Andrews, Borden, Crane and 14 more | Lowest Bronze$435 | Lowest Silver$491 | Lowest Gold$594 |
| Area 17: Coke, Concho, Crockett and 10 more | Lowest Bronze$536 | Lowest Silver$606 | Lowest Gold$732 |
| Area 18: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar and 18 more | Lowest Bronze$501 | Lowest Silver$566 | Lowest Gold$684 |
| Area 19: Cooke, Fannin, Grayson | Lowest Bronze$541 | Lowest Silver$611 | Lowest Gold$739 |
| Area 20: Bowie, Camp, Cass and 7 more | Lowest Bronze$492 | Lowest Silver$555 | Lowest Gold$671 |
| Area 21: Anderson, Cherokee, Henderson and 4 more | Lowest Bronze$504 | Lowest Silver$569 | Lowest Gold$687 |
| Area 22: Calhoun, De Witt, Goliad and 4 more | Lowest Bronze$530 | Lowest Silver$598 | Lowest Gold$723 |
| Area 23: Bosque, Falls, Freestone and 3 more | Lowest Bronze$539 | Lowest Silver$609 | Lowest Gold$736 |
| Area 24: Archer, Baylor, Clay and 9 more | Lowest Bronze$536 | Lowest Silver$606 | Lowest Gold$732 |
| Area 25: Denton, Erath, Hood and 6 more | Lowest Bronze$558 | Lowest Silver$630 | Lowest Gold$761 |
| Area 26: Austin, Brazoria, Colorado and 4 more | Lowest Bronze$530 | Lowest Silver$599 | Lowest Gold$723 |
| Area 27: Chambers, Liberty, Montgomery and 1 more | Lowest Bronze$515 | Lowest Silver$582 | Lowest Gold$703 |
Texas small group rules employers ask about
Who counts as a small employer
- 2 to 50 employees, averaged over last year’s business days.
- Eligible employees usually work 30+ hours a week.
- Owner-only does not qualify. At least one employee must enroll with the owner.
Tex. Ins. Code §1501.002; TDI small employer guide
How premiums are set
- By each employee’s age, your rating area and the plan.
- Tobacco surcharges must apply to the whole group.
- Carriers may offer a 4-tier composite rate.
45 CFR §147.102; TIC §1501.206; 28 TAC §26.30
When you can enroll
- Any month if you meet participation and contribution rules.
- Miss those rules and you can still enroll November 15 to December 15 for a January 1 start.
45 CFR §147.104; TDI small employer guide
Tax credit and SHOP
- Pays up to 50% of premiums (35% tax-exempt) for fewer than 25 FTEs.
- It generally needs a SHOP plan, and Texas has none for medical.
IRS, Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
Texas small group health insurance FAQ
Only Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas has published 2027 rates. For one employee age 40 in the Houston area, its plans run from $523 to $1,764 a month. Baylor Scott & White, UnitedHealthcare and CHRISTUS Health Plan prices come from a quote.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Baylor Scott & White, UnitedHealthcare and CHRISTUS Health Plan filed 2027 small-group plans. Leaving for 2027: Memorial Hermann and Integon National (Allstate Benefits).
Proposed averages run from +14.3% to +19.2%, depending on the carrier. Regulators can still lower them.
Their 2027 rate tables aren't public in the state's filing system. We can quote them for your group.
Not by itself. Texas needs at least two employees on day one. An owner can join when at least one employee enrolls.
Yes. Some Baylor Scott & White HMO plans leave out some state-mandated benefits for a lower price. Read the disclosure before you pick one.
Small group health insurance in other states
- Florida small group health insurance
- Alabama small group health insurance
- Tennessee small group health insurance
- Georgia small group health insurance
- Michigan small group health insurance
- North Carolina small group health insurance
- Maryland small group health insurance
- Virginia small group health insurance
- Louisiana small group health insurance
- Mississippi small group health insurance
- South Carolina small group health insurance
- Arkansas small group health insurance
- Arizona small group health insurance
Buying for yourself or your family instead? See the Marketplace plan directory.
Where these numbers come from
- Rates: each carrier's 2027 small-group Rates Table Template, filed in SERFF with the state insurance department, rates effective January 1, 2027. Plan names, metal levels and plan types: the carriers' Unified Rate Review Templates.
- Proposed rate changes: ratereview.healthcare.gov, small group, plan year 2027.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas: SERFF TXAC-134927288;TXAC-134927290; actuarial memo; rate justification
- Baylor Scott & White Insurance Company: SERFF SWHP-134953951; actuarial memo
- Scott and White Health Plan: SERFF SWHP-134962259; actuarial memo; rate justification
- UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company: SERFF UHLC-134950396; actuarial memo; rate justification
- UnitedHealthcare of Texas, Inc.: SERFF UHLC-134950382; actuarial memo; rate justification
- Share of enrollment with public prices: CMS Unified Rate Review data, 2026 projected small-group member-months.
- Tex. Ins. Code §1501.002
- TDI Small employer health insurance guide
- 28 TAC §26.30 Composite Premiums
- 45 CFR §147.104 (enrollment windows)
- IRS Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
- ratereview.healthcare.gov TX 2027 Small Group
Reviewed by Jacob Guidi, licensed health insurance agent (NPN 19902041), Thrive Benefits Group.
Thrive Benefits Group is a licensed broker, not a carrier or government agency. Rates shown are filed 2027 rates for one employee before the employer contribution. Your group's quote depends on employee ages, location, plan choice and carrier rules. Proposed rate changes can still be lowered by regulators.