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ACA Marketplace open enrollment in McAllen: what to know before November

Open enrollment for Marketplace health coverage, how subsidies work in South Texas, and what to gather before you apply.

Updated August 17, 2026 · 4 min read

The window

Marketplace open enrollment normally runs from November 1 through mid January, with coverage starting January 1 if you enroll by December 15. Outside that window you need a qualifying life event: losing other coverage, moving, marriage, a new baby, or a change in income that affects your eligibility.

Subsidies are the part people get wrong

Most people who buy Marketplace coverage qualify for help paying for it, and a lot of people who assume they earn too much still qualify. The subsidy is based on household income and household size for the year you are covering, not the year you are applying in.

That means an estimate is fine. If your income changes during the year, you update it and the subsidy adjusts. What you want to avoid is guessing high or low and finding out at tax time.

What to gather

• Household income estimate for the coverage year, for everyone on the application
• Social Security numbers or document numbers for anyone applying
• Details of any coverage offered through an employer
• Your preferred doctors and any prescriptions you take

Picking a plan is not just picking a premium

The cheapest monthly premium often carries the highest deductible. If you see a doctor regularly or take a maintenance medication, the plan that costs more each month can cost less across the year. We look at the total, not the sticker.

Local help

We are based in McAllen and we help clients across South Texas with Marketplace coverage every year. If you want someone to sit down and go through the options with you, call (956) 687-3334. Se habla español.