Best cheap health insurance in Florida
Who has the cheapest health insurance in Florida?
Ambetter has the cheapest health insurance in Florida. Silver health plans start at $440 per month for a 40-year-old before discounts.
However, Ambetter does not have the best overall plan quality in Florida. Consider Aetna if you want a good combination of cost and quality.
Find Cheap Health Insurance Quotes in Florida
Affordable health insurance in Florida
Company |
Cost
| |
|---|---|---|
| Ambetter | $440 - $897 |
| Capital Health Plan | $452 - $659 |
| Health First | $460 - $549 |
| Molina | $460 - $681 |
- Ambetter has the cheapest health insurance for about half of the people in Florida. Ambetter has the most affordable health coverage in several large cities like Jacksonville, Tampa and Orlando.
- Keep in mind that the cheapest health insurance plan for you will depend on where you live in Florida. For example, AmeriHealth has the most affordable health insurance in Miami-Dade County, but nowhere else.
Best health insurance in FL for flexible coverage: Florida Blue
Florida Blue has the only PPO (preferred provider organization) plans in Florida that you can buy on HealthCare.gov. A PPO lets you visit doctors outside your network. You also don't need to choose a primary care doctor or get referrals to see specialists with a PPO. However, these plans tend to cost more than HMOs (health maintenance organizations), which offer less freedom.
Best health insurance companies in Florida
Aetna has the best affordable health insurance in Florida for most people.
Aetna offers high-quality, affordable health insurance to more than half the people in Florida. The company charges $465 per month for its most affordable Silver health plan. That's 24% cheaper than the Florida state average.
Aetna gets significantly fewer complaints than an average company its size. Choosing a health insurance company that gets few complaints means you'll likely have an easier time when you file a claim.
Florida Health Care Plans has the highest-rated health plans in Florida according to HealthCare.gov, but it's not widely available. These ratings measure customer satisfaction, medical care quality and how well plans are run.
Only 10% of the Florida population can buy Florida Health Care Plans. Consider Florida Health if you live in East-Central Florida.
Best-rated health insurance companies in Florida
Company |
Editor rating
|
ACA Rating
|
|---|---|---|
| Aetna CVS Health | NA | |
| Florida Blue (BlueCross BlueShield FL) | 3.0 | |
| Ambetter from Sunshine Health | 3.0 | |
| Florida Blue HMO (a BlueCross BlueShield FL company) | 3.0 | |
| Health First Commercial Plans, Inc. | 3.0 |
Find Cheap Health Insurance Quotes in Florida
Best health insurance in Florida for flexible coverage
Consider Florida Blue if you want flexibility over getting the cheapest price. Florida Blue is the only company in Florida that sells PPOs on HealthCare.gov in Florida.
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has the most popular health company in Florida. The company sells about half the health plans in the state.
Remember Blue Cross Blue Shield operates under several company names in Florida. These include Florida Blue, Health Options, Florida Health Care Plan and Capital Health Plan.
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has the largest network of doctors in the U.S. Consider a BCBS company like Florida Blue if you travel often.
Blue Cross Blue Shield companies in Florida have high-quality health plans according to HealthCare.gov. These companies also typically have cheap plan options. For example, Capital Health Plan has affordable rates starting at $452 per month and Florida Blue plans start at $476 per month.
How much does health insurance cost in Florida?
Florida health insurance costs an average of $49 per month if you qualify for discounts based on the amount of money they earn..
Florida shoppers who don't qualify for discounts pay $613 per month for a Silver health plan on average.
- Platinum and Gold plans are expensive, but they cover a large portion of the bill when you visit the doctor or get a prescription filled.
- Silver health plans have affordable rates and middle-of-the-road costs when you get medical care. Bronze and Catastrophic plans have cheap monthly rates and high costs when you go to the doctor.
- Your age has a big impact on your health insurance costs. A 60-year-old in Florida will pay more than twice as much as a 40-year-old for the same level of health coverage, on average.
Get affordable health insurance in Florida
Health insurance in Florida costs $49 per month on average if you qualify for discounts because of your income.
Roughly 97% of people in Florida who shop for health insurance through HealthCare.gov qualify for discounts, called subsidies or premium tax credits. In addition, about half of all shoppers pay less than $10 per month for Obamacare plans in Florida.
If you can get subsidies depends on your household size and income. To qualify as a single person, you need to earn between $15,060 and $60,240 per year. A family of four needs a household income of $31,200 to $124,800 per year. If you earn above this amount, you may still qualify for subsidies if you pay more than 8.5% of your household income on health insurance.
Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum plans are all eligible for discounts.
Cheap Florida health insurance by city
AmeriHealth has the cheapest health insurance in Miami, at $490 per month on average.
Ambetter has the most affordable health plans in Orlando and Tampa. Ambetter plans start at $502 per month in Orlando and $465 per month in Tampa.
Cheapest health insurance by FL county
County | Cheapest plan | Monthly rates |
|---|---|---|
| Alachua | Ambetter from Sunshine Health Standard Silver | $536 |
| Baker | Ambetter from Sunshine Health Standard Silver | $521 |
| Bay | Ambetter from Sunshine Health Standard Silver | $478 |
| Bradford | Ambetter from Sunshine Health Standard Silver | $545 |
| Brevard | Health First Silver Value 1815 | $460 |
Cheapest Silver plan with rates for a 40-year-old
Find Cheap Health Insurance Quotes in Florida
Ambetter has the most affordable Silver health plans for over half the people in Florida. Ambetter is the best choice for cheap health insurance in roughly three-quarters of Florida counties including Duval, Hillsborough and Orange.
AmeriHealth has the cheapest health insurance in Miami-Dade County. That accounts for roughly 12% of the Florida population.
Best health insurance by level of coverage
You can choose from five different plan tiers when shopping for health insurance in Florida: Catastrophic, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
The best plan tier for you will depend on the amount of medical services you need, your savings and whether you qualify for income-based discounts.
Platinum plans: Best for expensive medical issues
| Platinum plans pay for about 90% of your medical care. |
Consider a platinum health insurance plans if you need expensive medical care. These plans have the highest monthly rates. However, you'll pay very little when you go to the doctor or get a prescription filled.
Platinum health plans in Florida cost $1,047 per month on average with a $279 deductible.
Gold plans: Best for people who have ongoing medical problems
| Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care. |
Gold plans are a good choice for people who need frequent medical care. That's because you pay less when you visit the doctor. For example, Gold plans typically have lower deductibles, copays and coinsurance than Silver and Bronze plans.
Gold plans in Florida cost $667 per month with a $1,140 annual deductible on average.
Silver plans: Best for most people
| Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care. |
Silver plans offer a good balance between affordable monthly rates and moderate costs you pay when you get medical care.
Silver health plans are a good choice if you're in good health and want to avoid large, unexpected medical costs. That's because plans typically have affordable monthly rates and average costs that you're responsible for paying when you visit the doctor.
In Florida, the average Silver health plan costs $613 per month and has a $5,092 deductible.
Bronze plans: Best if you're young and healthy
| Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care. |
Bronze plans are a good choice for Florida residents in good health who need cheap health insurance. Bronze plans typically have cheaper monthly rates than more expensive plan tiers. However, you're responsible for a much higher portion of your medical bill when you go to the doctor for services other than preventive care, like an annual check-up or vaccines.
In Florida, Bronze plans cost $510 per month and have a $5,169 deductible on average.
Catastrophic plans: Best for preventing financial disasters
Catastrophic plans are only available if you're younger than 30 or you get a special hardship exemption. A Catastrophic plan might make sense if you're in good health and can afford a large, unexpected medical bill.
Catastrophic plans are generally a bad deal. That's because most coverage won't kick in until you pay the very high deductible. In addition, Catastrophic plans are only slightly cheaper than Bronze plans.
Catastrophic plans aren't eligible for discounts.
That means Catastrophic plans often cost more than Bronze and Silver plans if you earn a low income.
Cheap and free health insurance options for Florida residents who earn low incomes
You may qualify for free health insurance through the government, called Medicaid, if you earn a low income and meet other program requirements.
If you earn a low income but aren't eligible for Medicaid, you may be able to get extra discounts when you get medical care with a Silver health plan.
Medicaid in Florida
You may be able to get free government health insurance, called Medicaid, if you earn a low income and you are:
- Pregnant
- 65 or older
- Blind or disabled
- A parent or caretaker to a child 18 or younger
- In a household with a disabled family member
Florida is one of the 10 states that does not have expanded Medicaid. That means you can't enroll in Medicaid in Florida unless you earn about $20,000 per year as a single person or around $41,000 per year for a family of four and you meet a second requirement.
Use cost-sharing reductions to save on medical care
| Silver plans will pay 73% to 94% of your medical costs if you have a low income. |
You may qualify for financial help, called cost-sharing reductions, with your medical bills if you have a Silver health plan and earn between $15,060 and $37,650 as a single person or $31,200 and $78,000 as a family of four.
Only Silver health plans are eligible for cost-sharing reductions (CSRs).
Cost-sharing reductions pay for some of the costs you're responsible for when you visit the doctor or fill a prescription, such as your deductible, copay and coinsurance.
Are health insurance rates going up in FL?
Health insurance rates increased by 4% on average from 2023 to 2024 in Florida.
Rate changes differ by plan tier. For example, Catastrophic plans actually got 5% cheaper from 2023 to 2024. On the other hand, the cost of an average Platinum plan rose by 9%.
Tier | 2023 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | $330 | $313 | -5% |
| Bronze | $480 | $510 | 6% |
| Silver | $599 | $613 | 2% |
| Gold | $652 | $667 | 2% |
| Platinum | $964 | $1,047 | 9% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Keep in mind that your rates will depend on factors like where you live and the company you choose. You can find cheaper plans by comparing health insurance quotes.
Obamacare in Florida
Florida health insurance plans sold through HealthCare.gov have to offer 10 "essential" types of coverage. These include:
- Hospital care
- Outpatient care
- Emergency care
- Laboratory services
- Coverage for babies
- Prescription drug coverage
- Preventive and wellness care
- Rehabilitation services and devices
- Care for pregnant women and newborns
- Mental health and substance use disorders
All plan tiers have to cover these ten benefits by law.
Average cost of health insurance by family size in Florida
How much you pay for health insurance depends on the size of your family. You'll pay an average of $367 for each child under the age of 18 in your household in Florida. A family of four with two 40-year-olds and two children will pay $1,960 per month for health insurance before discounts, on average.
Family size | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Individual | $613 |
| Individual + Child | $980 |
| Couple, age 40 | $1,226 |
| Family of three | $1,593 |
| Family of four | $1,960 |
Averages based on a Silver plan for 40-year-old adults and children.
Short-term health insurance in Florida
You can get short-term health insurance for up to four months in a 12-month period in Florida.
In Florida, you can buy a new short-term health policy for up to three months. You're allowed to renew your policy, so long as you don't have more than four months of total short-term coverage in a 12-month period.
For example, you could buy short-term health insurance that lasts for three months and then renew your policy for another month. After your short-term policy expires, you'd have to wait eight months before you can buy another short-term policy.
Recent changes to federal law mean that short-term health insurance bought before Sept. 1, 2024, can last for up to 364 days and you can renew your policy for up to three years.
Pros of short-term health insurance in FL
Cons of short-term health insurance in FL
Frequently asked questions
What is the best health insurance company in Florida?
Aetna has the best cheap health insurance in Florida, at $465 per month before discounts. Aetna has high-quality health plans and good customer service.
Keep in mind that the cheapest health plan for you will depend on things like where you live, how much you earn and what plan tier you buy.
How do I get good affordable health insurance in Florida?
The best way to find affordable health insurance in Florida is to compare health insurance quotes. It's also a good idea to pick the right level of coverage for you and to see what discounts you qualify for.
What is the average monthly cost of health insurance in Florida?
In Florida, health insurance costs $49 per month on average if you qualify for discounts based on your income. Roughly 97% of Floridians who shop for health insurance on HealthCare.gov get a discount, and about half of those shoppers pay less than $10 per month for coverage.
Full-price Silver health plans cost $613 per month on average. Savings are on a sliding scale so your costs will change based on your income.
Is Florida Blue the same as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida?
Yes, Florida Blue is the same as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida (BCBS of FL). BCBS is made up of smaller insurance companies, some of which — like Florida Blue — don't have Blue Cross Blue Shield in their names. If you buy a Florida Blue policy, you have BCBS coverage.
Methodology
Florida health insurance rate data for 2024 is from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website. ValuePenguin used the CMS public use files (PUFs) to find average rates across different plan tiers and age groups. Plans and insurance companies for which county-level data was included in the CMS Crosswalk file were used in our reporting. Those excluded from these files were not included in our analysis.
Average rates are for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan. Other sources include S&P Global Capital IQ and the NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners).
Editorial note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.