According to a new report released by Texas 2036 on April 27, 2026, Texas residents who actively searched for health insurance plans on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace saved an average of $79 per month compared to those who were automatically reenrolled.
The data, analyzed by Texas 2036 policy advisor Alec Mendoza, included a review of the data on 4.17 million Texans who made plan selections for the 2026 coverage year.
The report highlights a “measurable cost of not shopping,” noting that passive reenrollees—those automatically renewed into their previous year’s plan—paid more than double the monthly premiums of active shoppers. This divergence, totaling nearly $1,000 annually, disproportionately affected lower-income families who remained in plans that no longer offered the best market value.
The report suggests that a data-driven and targeted state investment in consumer awareness may reduce the financial burden on individuals and other state-funded healthcare programs.
Texas 2036 analyzed the state’s 4.17 million plan selections in three groups: 2.07 million active reenrollees, 1.34 million passive reenrollees, and 764,316 new consumers. Active shoppers paid an average monthly premium of $66 after subsidies, while those who were automatically renewed paid an average of $145 per month.
This difference occurred despite both groups having similar income profiles; notably, 69% of passive reenrollees reported household incomes between 100% and 150% of the Federal Poverty Level.
For a family of four in this income bracket—earning approximately $38,000 to $55,000 annually—the $145 monthly premium represents a significant portion of household expenses. While specific statewide averages for all families vary by plan tier, the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that the 2024 national average monthly premium for a benchmark silver plan for a family of four (two 40-year-old parents and two children) reached $1,471 before tax credits (KFF, 2024).
In Texas, the Texas 2036 report found that active shoppers utilized market mechanisms, such as those established by Senate Bill 1296, to secure Gold-tier plans with lower out-of-pocket costs more frequently than passive enrollees.
The data also revealed a gap in financial assistance: 96% of active shoppers received premium tax credits, compared to only 87% of those who were automatically renewed. This 9% difference suggests that a portion of the passive group is paying near-full premiums for coverage that may no longer be the most cost-effective option available in a changed market.
“For a consumer, the difference between shopping and not shopping in 2026 was nearly $1,000 per year and a meaningful difference in coverage quality,” the Texas 2036 report concludes.