Private health insurance offers several benefits for those who need self-employed health insurance in Texas. For starters, many types of coverage may be available year-round, rather than only during the open enrollment period.

Average Monthly Health Insurance Premiums for Benchmark Plans by State Without a Subsidy

3. You won't face a tax penalty for going without health insurance in 2021—but there are big downsides to being uninsured. Obamacare's tax penalty went away in 2019. That means that if you don't have health insurance, you won't have to pay a penalty when you file your federal income taxes.

A recent study by eHealth found that for the first half of the 2021 Open Enrollment Period, these were the average national monthly costs for ACA-compliant plans: Average monthly premiums for individual coverage: $484. Average monthly premiums for families: $1,230. Average annual deductibles for individuals: $4,394.