How To Find the Best Health Insurance in Florida

To find the best Florida health insurance plan, you need to compare quotes from multiple health insurance companies — especially considering coverage costs are a bit higher than average in Florida. Although health insurance is technically optional in Florida, it’s still recommended that you purchase a policy to protect yourself from significant medical debt in the event that you become sick or injured.

Read on to learn more about health insurance coverage in Florida, including what insurers tend to offer cheap plans throughout the state and how much coverage typically costs in some of its biggest cities.

On This Page

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  Is Health Insurance Required in Florida?

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  Florida Health Insurance Rankings

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  How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Florida?

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  What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in Florida by City?

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  Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Florida?

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  When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Florida?

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  What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Florida?

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  How To Get Health Insurance in Florida

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  FAQs

Is Health Insurance Required in Florida?

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), taxpayers in every state are required by law to maintain health insurance. However, the federal government has not levied individual mandate penalties since the 2018 tax year.^[1] As a result, health insurance requirements are only enforced at the state or district level, and the Florida state government does not fine individuals who go without health insurance.

Florida Health Insurance Rankings

The Commonwealth Fund ranked Florida 39th out of 51 in an analysis of the overall quality of the health care systems in each American state and Washington, D.C. Notably, Florida ranked third-to-last in the country on the prevention of avoidable medical expenses. Nevertheless, it ranked in the top five among states in the Southeast when considering all metrics.^[2]

See the following table for an overview of Florida’s national rating in each of the dimensions analyzed by the Commonwealth Fund:^[2]

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Florida?

The average cost of a Marketplace benchmark plan in Florida is $515 per month — a bit more expensive than the nationwide average of $497 per month. Meanwhile, Florida residents pay an average monthly premium of $394 for the lowest-cost bronze plan available in the state, $513 for the lowest-cost silver plan and $520 for the lowest-cost gold plan.^[3]

Cheapest Health Insurance Options in Florida

When you shop for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, your cheapest options will generally be plans in the bronze tier, which come with low premiums and high deductibles, copays and coinsurance. That said, a bronze plan may not adequately match your coverage needs, depending on your circumstances.

For example, if you receive regular treatments for a chronic disease, you may prefer a plan with higher monthly premiums and lower out-of-pocket costs each time you receive care.

Keep in mind that health maintenance organization (HMO) plans generally have lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs than preferred provider organization (PPO) plans. However, you may sacrifice certain benefits if you opt for an HMO plan, such as the freedom to see a specialist without a referral or visit an out-of-network provider for nonemergency care.

What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in Florida by City?

The following table goes over the median monthly rates across all metal levels for individual health insurance plans for 30-year-olds in five major cities in Florida — before taking premium tax credits into account.^[4]

Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Florida?

Ambetter has the lowest starting rates for silver-tier health insurance coverage for 40-year-olds in Florida. In the table below, you’ll find an overview of health insurers in Florida that offer coverage to the same demographic with premiums starting below $600 per month.^[5]

When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Florida?

Florida does not operate its own state Marketplace website, so residents can enroll through the federal Marketplace website at HealthCare.gov during the standard open enrollment period from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15. You must enroll by Dec. 15 for your coverage to start at the beginning of the new year. Otherwise, your new health plan will take effect on Feb. 1.^[6]

It’s possible to sign up for Marketplace insurance outside of open enrollment — but only if you experience a major life event that triggers a special enrollment period. Qualifying events can include moving to a new address, losing work-based health insurance and getting married. Special enrollment periods usually last 60 days and may begin before or after the qualifying life event, depending on the type of special enrollment period.^[7]

What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Florida?

Some of the major types of health insurance you can purchase in Florida include the following:

• Marketplace health insurance
• Private coverage purchased directly from an insurance company, such as short-term health insurance
• Employer-sponsored group health insurance
• Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) continuation coverage
• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) — also known as Florida KidCare
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits
• Student health insurance

How To Get Health Insurance in Florida

You’ll generally want to shop around and compare health insurance quotes from approximately three to five insurance providers before settling on a health plan. However, this can create a problem if you decide to request quotes from insurance carriers one by one, which can be a repetitive and time-consuming process.

With SmartFinancial, the insurance comparison shopping process is much easier. All you have to do is take a few minutes to answer a handful of questions, and then we’ll help you find the best health insurance plan for your situation. Click here to begin your questionnaire and start comparing health insurance quotes for free today.