Key facts
~37,000
Population — ; rural agricultural and energy county
~$355
Benchmark Silver plan -$405/month for a 40-year-old (before subsidies)
County seat: Bay City — rural coastal community on the lower Colorado River
ACA carriers: BCBS Texas (primary); Ambetter may be available — verify by zip
South Texas Project Electric Generating Station: major nuclear power plant employer
Economy: rice farming, cattle ranching, nuclear energy, fishing
Matagorda County is a rural coastal county on the mid-Texas Gulf Coast, centered on the city of Bay City. With approximately 37,000 residents, the county has a distinctive economic mix: rice farming (Matagorda is one of the top rice-producing counties in Texas), cattle ranching, commercial fishing, and the South Texas Project Electric Generating Station — a two-unit nuclear power plant that is the county's single largest private employer and one of the largest nuclear facilities in the United States.
This combination of agriculture, energy, and fishing creates a health insurance population heavily weighted toward self-employed individuals, seasonal workers, and contract employees. Many Matagorda County residents have no employer-sponsored health insurance and depend on ACA marketplace coverage, making subsidy optimization particularly important in this rural market.
Health coverage on the Gulf Coast
Matagorda Regional Medical Center in Bay City is the county's primary hospital, providing acute care, emergency services, and some outpatient specialty clinics. For advanced specialist care, complex surgery, and services not available locally, Matagorda County residents face significant travel distances:
When choosing an ACA plan, ensure the network covers both Matagorda Regional Medical Center locally and whichever referral center you would use for specialist care. For families, Houston's Texas Children's Hospital is the nearest major pediatric referral center.
Matagorda County's agricultural economy — rice farming, cattle ranching, and related operations — generates a substantial self-employed population. Rice farmers, ranch operators, and agricultural service providers typically need individual health insurance through the ACA marketplace. Income variability from crop yields and commodity prices makes accurate income estimation critical for subsidy calculations.
Commercial fishing operations out of Matagorda Bay — primarily shrimp and oyster — employ workers who are often self-employed or work for small operations without employer coverage. The fishing economy is seasonal, adding income variability that complicates subsidy calculations.
| Annual Income (Single Adult) | % of FPL (2026) | Subsidy Status | Est. Net Monthly Cost (Silver) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below $15,960 | Below 100% | Texas coverage gap — no subsidy | Full premium (no assistance) |
| $15,960 - $23,940 | 100-150% | Maximum subsidy + Enhanced Silver CSRs | $0 - $22/month |
| $23,941 - $31,920 | 150-200% | Strong subsidy + Enhanced Silver CSRs | $22 - $65/month |
| $31,921 - $47,880 | 200-300% | Meaningful subsidy | $65 - $165/month |
| $47,881 - $63,840 | 300-400% | Moderate subsidy | $165 - $280/month |
Estimates for a single 40-year-old on a benchmark Silver plan. Not guaranteed quotes — verify at healthcare.gov.
Bay City is the county seat and contains the county's hospital and most commercial services. Palacios is a fishing village on Matagorda Bay. The unincorporated community of Matagorda sits at the mouth of the Colorado River. All residents use the same ACA marketplace pool regardless of community.
Matagorda County residents use HealthCare.gov for ACA marketplace enrollment. Open enrollment for 2026-2027 runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Self-employed farmers, ranchers, and fishermen should estimate annual income carefully to avoid subsidy reconciliation issues at tax time.
Also see: Texas Gulf Coast Health Insurance guide. Browse plans at HealthCare.gov.