Cheap Health Insurance in Florida 2023

Health insurance in Florida is crucial to ensure your overall health and well-being. More importantly, in your time of need, you can rely on your health insurance plan and smoothly get back on the road to recovery without incurring huge out-of-pocket medical expenses. 

To help you get started, we’ve created a detailed review of the providers known for offering the best and cheap health insurance in Florida. Continue reading to learn everything that you need to know about the Florida health insurance marketplace and how to buy cheap insurance. If you are looking for comprehensive health insurance outside of Florida- make sure to check out our list of best health insurance companies in the US.

List of Providers and Comparison of Plans

Although there are numerous health insurance companies in Florida, the most popular ones are listed below:

Florida Blue

Florida Blue is the subdivision of Blue Cross Blue Shield. It provides PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans that give you the flexibility to choose your health care services providers like hospitals and doctors. You can create your own network of participating providers.

It is a good choice, especially for those with chronic conditions or those who don’t want to start a new treatment with a new medical expert. Moreover, they also give policy buyers subsidiaries to lower healthcare costs, such as if you have a fixed income.

Their ACA-compliant healthcare plans include free preventive care like vaccines, mammograms, and physicals.

Cigna

If your budget is tight and you want cheap health insurance in Florida, Cigna is an option to consider. The company has the cheapest rates for all age groups as compared to its counterparts. Cigna offers individual coverage with four tiers that differ in deductibles, coinsurance benefits, and costs.  

Not only are their healthcare options cost-effective, but they also include ACA compliant benefits. This means that their health plans include free preventive care, so you pay little to nothing for health screenings, vaccinations, and preventive prescription drugs.

With Cigna, policy buyers also get incentivized special discounts on gym membership and health clubs. 

Florida Health Care Plans

Best known for its Florida affordable health insurance plans, FHCP is a one-stop service provider for all your healthcare needs. FHCP offers cheap programs to services such as facilities encompassing labs, primary physician offices, pharmacies, radiology, and extended hours care centers. They excel in every domain—health, wellness, and insurance.  

Ambetter

This is a company that provides health insurance products to different insurance companies who sell their plans in the market. Ambetter’s Florida health insurance plans are best for those looking for basic coverage and member benefits at a cost-effective monthly premium. 

The drawback is that the company has below average customer reviews.

Molina Healthcare of Florida

Molina Healthcare provides managed health care services via Medicaid, the State Marketplace, and Medicare. It is also a Fortune 500 company that has 2.3 million members in over 11 states, including Florida.

The majority of the Florida health insurance plans offered by Molina are accredited by NCQA. The company is dedicated to offering quality and cost-effective medical care plans to children and adults with low income. Since 2005, their health plans have ranked among the best Medicaid plans.

Health First Health Plans

This is yet another popular health insurance program provider in Florida. The company offers a wide range of plans such as Medicare Advantage, individual and family, and small and large groups. These health plans are offered both on and off the State Marketplace exchange.

The company’s plan is supported by their health-first integrated delivery network encompassing wellness and prevention, access to a group of physicians, and hospital care services. Some benefits of healthcare plans worth mentioning are:

• Global coverage for emergency care
• Over 100 prescription drugs available for free to Medicare Advantage members
• Fitness programs
• More than 4,000 providers

Oscar

Oscar is a health insurance company in Florida strongly committed to providing health plans that offer coverage to buyers from head to toe along with unique benefits to keep them healthy while saving big. They use smart and intuitive technologies to help policyholders find board-certified doctors so that they can get the right medical aid when policyholders need it the most.

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Blue Cross Blue Shield has a stellar market reputation and is top-rated for its claims and customer service, pricing, website, and apps.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association offers healthcare coverage to over 107 million members countrywide. Over 96% of the hospitals and 95% of medical professionals contract with BCBS companies. 

Bright Health

One of the cheapest health insurance providers in Florida, Bright Health connects policy buyers with top medical physicians and offers other benefits such as exceptional care in-person, on-the-go, and online healthcare. Bright Health works with exclusive care partners to provide an affordable healthcare plan.

Cheapest Health Insurance Plan by Counties in Florida

The tables illustrated below show the cheapest health insurance in Florida by metal tiers and in different counties. Please note, health insurance service providers annually set their deductibles, rates, and out-of-pocket maximums and get them approved by the Federal Exchange. Thus, the rates are variable to change. 

Table with premiums for a 40-year-old adult

Metal tier	2019 premium	2020 premium	2021 premium	Percentage change
Catastrophic	$241	$269	$303	13%
Bronze	$388	$401	$414	3%
Expanded Bronze	$416	$434	$433	0%
Silver	$598	$584	$571	-2%
Gold	$646	$624	$618	-1%
Platinum	$850	$825	$827	0%

Table with the cheapest plans in top counties

County	Cheapest plan	Single adult, aged 40	Couple, aged 40	Couple aged 40 plus a child
Highlands	Ambetter Balanced Care 29 (2021)	$457	$913	$1,187
Charlotte	Oscar Silver Saver	$408	$815	$1,059
Palm Beach	Cigna Connect 6000	$430	$861	$1,118

Average Cost of Health Insurance

The average cost of health insurance in Florida is approximately $115 monthly premium with a $4,945 deductible. Likewise, the average cost of health insurance by family size in Florida is $285 monthly premium with a $9,371 deductible.

Florida Health Insurance Guide 

Here is a quick guide about different types of Florida health insurance: 

Employer-Provided

Although no law in Florida requires employers to provide group healthcare insurance to their staff, some employers benefit their employees. 

Here it is essential to note that if any health insurance plan is provided, employers must follow Florida insurance laws and cover certain benefits (mandated benefits). Employees have the right to continue group coverage or convert to an individual policy.

Other Health Insurance Options

In case you don’t get health insurance benefits through an employer, you can get cheap health insurance in Florida through:

• A public or private marketplace
• A licensed agent in person or over the phone
• Directly from an insurance company

These individual health insurance plans in Florida can be bought during the annual open enrollment period. 

Government-Assisted

If need be, individuals and families can also benefit from government-assisted health insurance plans in Florida. Here are some details and qualification requirements:

Florida Medicare

Qualification

Medicare is a low-cost healthcare option for seniors in Florida. Thus, you can join this program if you meet any of the following criteria:

• You are 65 or above
• You are under 65 but disabled, and you get disability benefits from Railroad Retirement Board or Social Security
• You are suffering from end-stage renal disease
• You are suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Coverage

The government-sponsored program called Original Medicare is known as Medicare Part A (including hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (including medical insurance).

If you need health coverage for prescription drugs, you should buy a Medicare Part D drug plan. This can be bought separately from a Florida private health insurance company. 

You can also buy a Medicare Supplement plan to fill the gaps that Original Medicare does not pay, such as copays and deductibles.

Private insurance companies in Florida offer Medicare Advantage plans. These plans roll Medicare Part A and B in one plan with Part D drug coverage being optional. In some plans, dental, hearing, and vision coverage is also included.

At present more than 1.9 million people in Florida are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.

Florida Medicaid

Qualification

Medicaid health insurance in Florida is designed for individuals with low income.

Qualify requirements are:

You must be a US national, a legal alien, or a resident of the State of Florida in need of health insurance, and you must have a low income. You must also be either:

• Pregnant
• Be responsible for a child 18 years or younger
• Blind
• Have some disability
• Be 65 or above

Coverage

This is a federal and state partnership program dedicated to providing health coverage to selected categories of individuals in Florida with low income. The purpose of this Florida health insurance plan is to improve the health of individuals who might not have adequate finances to afford medical care for themselves and their children.

Tips to Save on Health Insurance in Florida

When shopping for health insurance in Florida, you will see that rates and premium costs may vary from company to company. The factors that usually contribute to high premium costs are:

• Body mass index (BMI)
• Tobacco use
• Age
• Location
• Cost-sharing reductions
• Should you apply as family or individuals
• Pre-existing conditions
• Gender
• Insurance and medical history

For example, the cost of healthcare per individual covered by a policy is set according to age. Rates will increase with age or as you get older. 

Similarly, if you smoke or use tobacco, you can pay up to a 50% higher rate for health insurance in Florida as the risk of suffering from health conditions is higher among smokers than non-smokers. 

Therefore, to save big and get a policy at an affordable price, here are the tips that some of the best health insurance companies in Florida recommend:

• Avoid smoking or tobacco use 
• Maintain right body weight
• Eat a healthy diet
• Get enough sleep
• Increase physical activity 
• Avoid passive smoking

By taking steps toward a healthier lifestyle, you will feel better and dramatically save on your health care costs.

Final Thoughts

In a nutshell, if you are looking for cheap health insurance in Florida, research is crucial. It is a good idea to research the market to evaluate your options and make the best choice. Always look for a coverage plan that suits your lifestyle and helps you get the right care.