The cheapest health insurance in Florida, honestly

• 4,538,772Floridians picked a 2026 marketplace plan, more than any other state
• $106average monthly premium Floridians paid after tax credits in 2026, versus $806 before
• 26%of the poverty line, Florida's Medicaid income limit for parents in a family of three

Step one: find out if you get a subsidy

Premium tax credits for 2027 coverage go to households between 100 and 400 percent of the federal poverty guideline. That is roughly $15,960 to $63,840 for one person and $33,000 to $132,000 for a family of four. The credit is tied to the second cheapest silver plan in your area, so if you qualify, the cheapest bronze plan can cost very little or nothing at all. That is how one in three Floridians paid $10 or less last year.

Use my subsidy calculator first. If you land inside that range, the cheapest plan is whatever is left after your credit, and it is often cheaper than anything else on this page.

The cheapest full price plans, county by county

If your income is above 400 percent of poverty, you pay full price. Here is the cheapest bronze plan for a 40 year old in each of the 20 Florida counties I track, from the CMS plan year 2026 data. Most are expanded bronze HMO plans.

Full monthly price before any tax credit, plan year 2026. 2027 prices publish before open enrollment. See every county on the county hub.

Age moves these numbers a lot. In Hillsborough County, the same cheapest bronze plan cost $374.28 a month at 21 and $1,015.78 at 60. For the full picture of what a typical Floridian pays, read how much health insurance costs per month in Florida.

Catastrophic plans: cheap for some, not for all

Catastrophic plans have very high deductibles but cover at least three primary care visits a year and preventive care before the deductible. You can buy one if you are under 30, or if you qualify for a hardship exemption. CMS widened that exemption for 2026 to people who cannot get tax credits because of their income, and its final rule for 2027 extends it to people whose income is below 100 percent or above 250 percent of poverty.

Two catches. You cannot use a premium tax credit on a catastrophic plan, so anyone who qualifies for a subsidy almost always does better with bronze. And catastrophic is not always cheaper. At age 21 in 2026:

Only 3,437 Floridians chose a catastrophic plan for 2026. In Brevard and Orange counties it is a real bargain for a young person without a subsidy. In Miami-Dade, bronze is cheaper.

Medicaid in Florida has very tight limits

Florida has not expanded Medicaid. According to KFF, the income limit for parents is 26 percent of the poverty line for a family of three, roughly $7,100 a year, and adults without dependent children generally cannot qualify at any income. Children, pregnant women, and people who are older or have disabilities have separate, higher limits.

That creates a gap. Marketplace tax credits start at 100 percent of poverty, so an adult in Florida earning less than that often qualifies for neither. HealthCare.gov still recommends filling out an application, because the details of your household and income can change the answer. Some counties also run local programs for residents who cannot get other coverage.

Short term plans: cheaper, with real limits

Short term medical plans often cost less than bronze, and for a brief, known gap they can make sense. But they are not ACA plans. They can exclude pre existing conditions, cap benefits, and are not covered by federal surprise billing protections. Federal rules on how long they can last are in flux: a 2024 rule capped them at four months, and in August 2025 the federal agencies said they would not prioritize enforcing it while they reconsider. What you can actually buy depends on state law and the insurer, and restrictions vary by state. Treat one as a bridge, not a home.

Why the cheapest premium is not always the cheapest year

In Hillsborough County for 2026, the cheapest bronze plan for a 40 year old cost $478.32 a month with a $9,000 deductible and a $10,600 out of pocket maximum. The cheapest gold plan cost $595.01 with a $3,000 deductible, and it was cheaper than the benchmark silver plan at $648.49. That is about $1,400 more a year for a deductible that is $6,000 lower. For anyone who expects to use care, gold can be the cheapest year overall. My deductible vs out of pocket maximum guide and bronze vs silver vs gold walk through the math.

My honest take

Do not shop by premium alone. Check your subsidy first, then compare premium plus deductible against how you actually use care. If a spouse's employer plan, Medicaid for your kids, or a subsidized bronze plan is your cheapest route, I will tell you so, even when it means I sell you nothing. Help from me is free either way, and brokers never change what a plan costs. Here is why a broker is free.

Common questions