- 6carriers selling 2026 marketplace plans in Polk County
- 159plans on the Polk shelf, from 54 bronze to 38 gold
- $661benchmark silver for a 40 year old in Polk, full price per month
Who sells marketplace plans in Polk County
Six companies sell in Polk, against ten in the busiest Florida county I track and four in the thinnest. Florida Blue alone accounts for 72 of the 159 plans in Polk, 45 percent of the shelf, so a lot of what you see when you shop is one company's lineup in different metal levels.
| Carrier | Plans | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Platinum | Network types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida BlueFlorida Blue (BlueCross BlueShield FL), Florida Blue HMO (a BlueCross BlueShield FL company) | 72 | 24 | 24 | 13 | 11 | EPO 19, HMO 25, POS 14, PPO 14 |
| Ambetter Health | 19 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 0 | HMO 19 |
| Molina Healthcare | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 0 | HMO 19 |
| OscarOscar Health Maintenance Organization of Florida | 19 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 0 | HMO 19 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 17 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 0 | HMO 17 |
| Wellpoint | 13 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | HMO 13 |
Polk plan counts from the CMS 2026 landscape file (county FIPS 12105, Rating Area 53). Bronze includes expanded bronze, and companies CMS lists under more than one legal issuer are grouped with the legal names underneath.
What it costs in Polk County before any subsidy
These are the full monthly prices, before any premium tax credit, for the cheapest Polk plan at each metal level. I show the sticker price because it is what your subsidy is subtracted from, and most people who enroll in Polk pay less, often a lot less.
| Monthly premium, full price | Age 21 | Age 40 | Age 60 | Couple, both 40 | Couple 40 + 2 kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest bronze | $399 | $509 | $1,082 | $1,019 | $1,629 |
| Lowest silver | $506 | $647 | $1,374 | $1,294 | $2,069 |
| Benchmark silver (second lowest) | $517 | $661 | $1,404 | $1,322 | $2,113 |
| Lowest gold | $528 | $675 | $1,434 | $1,351 | $2,159 |
| Lowest platinum | $938 | $1,198 | $2,544 | $2,396 | $3,831 |
Benchmark silver is the second lowest of the 55 silver premiums listed for Polk. The last column is two adults aged 40 plus two children.
What these numbers mean if you live in Polk County
Polk County is one of 32 of the 79 counties and parishes on my list where the metal levels are priced in the order you would expect. The cheapest gold at 40 is $675, which is $14 above the benchmark silver and $28 above the cheapest silver. In Polk the extra gold premium pays for a lower deductible rather than coming free.
In Polk County the benchmark is $151 above the cheapest bronze at age 40, and 24 of the other 78 counties and parishes I track have a narrower one. That gap decides whether bronze can be free, because your subsidy is the $661 benchmark minus what the government expects you to pay from your income. A 40 year old in Polk whose expected share is $151 a month or less would pay nothing for the cheapest bronze. At 60 the Polk gap grows to $322 and at 21 it shrinks to $119, which is why older enrollees are the ones most likely to find a $0 plan.
Compared with nearby Hillsborough County, the Polk benchmark is $12 higher at 40 and the cheapest bronze is $31 higher. AvMed sells in Hillsborough County and not in Polk.
Polk plans by metal level, network and deductible
| Metal level | Plans | $0 deductible | Deductible range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | 1 | 0 | |
| Bronze | 6 | 0 | $6,150 to $10,600 |
| Expanded Bronze | 48 | 16 | $0 to $9,000 |
| Silver | 55 | 0 | $1,850 to $9,500 |
| Gold | 38 | 7 | $0 to $3,000 |
| Platinum | 11 | 8 | |
| Total | 159 | 31 |
By network type the 159 Polk plans break down as 112 HMO, 19 EPO, 14 POS and 14 PPO. Only 14 are PPOs, and every one of them comes from Florida Blue. If seeing specialists without a referral matters to you, that narrows the Polk shelf to one company. 31 plans in Polk have a $0 medical deductible (16 expanded bronze, 8 platinum and 7 gold). The 16 bronze ones among them still have out of pocket maximums of $9,900 to $10,600, so a $0 deductible does not mean a small bill.
Every Polk price on this page is before subsidies, and most enrollees pay less. For a 40 year old in Polk the premium tax credit is measured against the $661 benchmark. Estimate your own subsidy, or send me your ZIP and I will run the Polk numbers for you.
2027 plans for Polk County
These are the 2026 plans and prices for Polk County. The 2027 plans and prices are published around November 1, 2026, and I will update this page with the new Polk numbers then. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage in Florida runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and December 15 is the last day to pick a plan that starts January 1.
Questions about Polk County coverage
How many health insurance companies sell marketplace plans in Polk County, Florida?
For 2026, six carriers sell individual marketplace plans in Polk County: Florida Blue, Ambetter Health, Molina Healthcare, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare and Wellpoint. Together they offer 159 plans across the metal levels, according to the CMS plan landscape file.
What is the cheapest health insurance in Polk County?
At full price before any subsidy, the cheapest bronze plan in Polk County is $399 a month for a 21 year old, $509 at 40 and $1,082 at 60. In Polk a couple both aged 40 pays $1,019 for the cheapest bronze, and two 40 year olds with two children pay $1,629. Catastrophic plans in Polk, open only to people under 30 or with a hardship exemption, start at $376 at age 21. Most people in Polk who qualify for a premium tax credit pay less than these prices.
What is the benchmark silver plan premium in Polk County for 2026?
The second lowest cost silver plan, the benchmark your subsidy is calculated from, is $661 a month for a 40 year old in Polk County before subsidies. In Polk it is $517 at age 21 and $1,404 at age 60, and the lowest silver plan is $647 at 40.
Is any insurance company leaving Polk County for 2027?
None of the six carriers selling in Polk County in 2026 is one of the confirmed 2027 exits I flag for Florida, which is Cigna. Smaller changes can still happen, so read your renewal notice. The 2027 carrier lineup and prices for Polk are published around November 1, 2026, and I will update this page then.
Can I get a PPO or a $0 deductible plan in Polk County?
Yes to both. 14 of the 159 plans in Polk are PPOs, all from Florida Blue, and 31 plans have a $0 medical deductible. The cheapest gold plan for a 40 year old in Polk is $675 a month before subsidies.
More for Polk County residents
- Health insurance brokers in Florida, how to choose one and what it costs
- Every 2027 carrier change in Florida
- How Polk compares with the other 78 counties and parishes I track
- Estimate a Polk subsidy
Get your Polk County quote
Send me your ZIP and who needs coverage and I will compare every Polk plan you qualify for with your subsidy applied, free and with no pressure.
Get my free quote → Or book a callSources
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, QHP Landscape Individual Market Medical, plan year 2026 (public use file), Polk County rows
- HealthCare.gov, Health plan information for individuals and families
- healthinsurance.org, ACA open enrollment deadlines