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Florida Health Insurance in 2027: Rules and Options

Florida buyers shop the largest individual market in the country through HealthCare.gov, with no state exchange and no state subsidy above the federal 400 percent income line. Leaving an employer with fewer than 20 workers triggers Florida's own continuation law, which keeps the group plan for up to 18 months at up to 115 percent of the premium if you notify the insurer within 63 days. Florida law also allows short-term plans with an initial term under 12 months and up to 36 months in total, one of the more permissive rules in the country. For 2027, average individual premiums rise about 10 percent, and plan choice and networks vary enormously by county, so the same coverage decision can come out differently in Hillsborough, Miami-Dade and the Panhandle.

Private health insurance in Florida

Most people I help in Florida end up on a private plan, not a Marketplace plan. Private, medically underwritten health insurance is priced on your age, zip code and health instead of your income, so a strong year never raises your premium and there is no tax credit to pay back in April.

Why people leave the Marketplace

Premiums keep climbing. Florida Marketplace premiums are rising 10.4% on average for 2027.
The subsidy cliff. Above 400 percent of the poverty level ($63,840 for one person, $132,000 for a family of four) you pay full price.
Surprise tax bills. Underestimate your income and you repay the tax credit in April.
Narrow networks. Many plans are local HMOs or EPOs that need referrals and cover little outside the area.
High out-of-pocket costs. 2027 out-of-pocket maximums reach $12,000 per person and $24,000 per family.
One window a year. Outside open enrollment you need a qualifying life event to enroll or switch.

What a private plan does differently

Start any month. If approved, coverage can begin the first of next month, with no wait for open enrollment.
Networks that travel. Many private plans use national PPO networks, which can give you in-network doctors outside Florida too. Networks vary by plan.
Can cost less than full-price Marketplace plans for some healthy applicants above the subsidy line.
Accident coverage the Marketplace does not offer. A private plan can be paired with accident coverage, a separate policy. What it includes varies by plan.
Approval is based on health. You answer health questions, and acceptance is not guaranteed.

With a significant health condition, or income low enough for a large tax credit, a Marketplace plan can be the better fit, and I will tell you if it is. Either way you see both side by side.

Private plans are not ACA Marketplace plans. Benefits, exclusions and pre-existing condition rules differ by plan and by state, so review the plan details before you enroll.

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Learn more: coverage not based on income · how underwriting works · private vs Obamacare · PPO plans for individuals · switching from the Marketplace

Where to enroll

Florida uses HealthCare.gov. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Private, medically underwritten plans are sold outside the exchange by licensed agents and can start the first of any month if you are approved.

Leaving a small employer

If you leave an employer with fewer than 20 employees, Florida's Health Insurance Coverage Continuation Act lets you keep the group plan for up to 18 months, at up to 115 percent of the premium, if you notify the insurer in writing within 63 days. Losing employer coverage also opens a 60-day Marketplace special enrollment period.

Short-term health plans

Florida law allows short-term plans with an initial term under 12 months and up to 36 months in total, and federal agencies are not prioritizing enforcement of the federal four-month limit, so multi-month plans are sold in Florida. Short-term plans are medically underwritten, exclude pre-existing conditions and cap benefits, so they fit only a defined gap.

2027 premium changes

Florida individual-market premiums are set to rise 10.4% on average for 2027, with small-group plans up about 11.4%. The full breakdown is on the Florida 2027 rate page.

More Florida guides by job and situation

Florida questions

Where do Florida residents buy individual health insurance for 2027?

Florida uses HealthCare.gov. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027.

What happens to my group coverage if I leave a small employer in Florida?

How long can a short-term health plan last in Florida?

How much are Florida premiums rising for 2027?

Individual-market premiums are set to rise 10.4% on average, and small-group plans about 11.4%, based on final rate filings.

Sources: www2.myfloridalicense.com, www.leg.state.fl.us, www.leg.state.fl.us. Checked October 21, 2026. More on health insurance in Florida.

Licensed in Florida. I compare Marketplace and private plans side by side for your household, no fee.

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