Private Health Plans for the Self-Employed in Florida

I am an independent, licensed health insurance broker, and I am licensed in Florida. If you are self-employed, a 1099 contractor, or a freelancer, this page covers the options that sit outside the Marketplace — what is actually available in Florida, what the trade-offs are, and when a private plan is the wrong answer. There is no fee for my help. The insurance company pays the broker, not you.

Florida law allows short-term plans to run up to 36 months including renewals.

Florida at a glance for the self-employed

Florida is the biggest individual market in the country. About 4.5 million Floridians picked a Marketplace plan for 2026, nearly 1 in 5 of all U.S. enrollees, and a large share of them are self-employed. Floridians shop on HealthCare.gov, where 16 carriers sold plans for 2026.

• 2027 carrier changes. Cigna is leaving the Florida Marketplace, and Sunshine State Health Plan members are moving to Ambetter. If you are with either, plan to switch during Open Enrollment.
• Prices are still climbing. Premiums rose about 31.5% on average for 2026, and carriers proposed about 16% more for 2027, with individual filings ranging from roughly 4% to 39%.
• No Medicaid expansion. Florida has not expanded Medicaid, so a self-employed adult with a lean year below the poverty line can fall into the coverage gap: too little income for a tax credit, and not eligible for Medicaid.
• Farm Bureau plans are new here. Florida law began allowing Farm Bureau health plans in 2025. They are membership plans, not insurance, and they are medically underwritten. Ask me whether one is offered in your county and how it compares.

In 2026 the average Florida enrollee received about $740 a month in subsidies. Above the 400% line you get none of it.

The 400% line matters more here than most people expect. For 2027 the credit stops above $63,840 for one person and $132,000 for a family of four, and there is no phase-out. See the full 2027 income limits.

Your private options in Florida

• Short-term plans. Florida allows short-term coverage for up to 36 months including renewals. That length makes them tempting, but they usually exclude pre-existing conditions and often leave out prescriptions and maternity, so read the benefit summary line by line.
• Farm Bureau health plans. Florida began allowing these membership plans in 2025. They ask health questions and are not regulated as insurance, which can mean lower prices for healthy members and no guarantee of approval.
• Medically underwritten private plans. Health questions up front, often lower premiums for healthy applicants, broad PPO networks, and applications accepted any month.
• Supplemental coverage. Accident, critical-illness and hospital plans can soften a high deductible. How it works.

When private is the right call in Florida, and when it is not

With more than a dozen carriers on HealthCare.gov for 2027 and proposed 2027 increases averaging about 16%, a healthy Florida freelancer or business owner over the subsidy line often saves real money with a private plan.

Stay with HealthCare.gov if you have an ongoing condition, are pregnant or planning to be, take expensive prescriptions, or qualify for a meaningful tax credit. If that is you, I will say so.

The tax piece

Most self-employed people can deduct their health insurance premiums, which also lowers the income that counts toward a subsidy. How it works for 1099 workers.

Florida questions I hear a lot

Can I buy a private health plan in Florida outside Open Enrollment?

Yes. Medically underwritten private plans can be applied for any month of the year, and Florida allows short-term plans to run up to 36 months including renewals. Marketplace plans need Open Enrollment or a qualifying life event.

What is changing in the Florida Marketplace for 2027?

Cigna is leaving the Florida Marketplace and Sunshine State Health Plan members are moving to Ambetter. Carriers proposed an average increase of about 16% for 2027.

Florida did not expand Medicaid. What if my self-employment income is low?

Marketplace tax credits generally start at 100% of the poverty level. Below that, most adults without children are not eligible for Florida Medicaid, which is the coverage gap. Call me, because there are sometimes still options.

What if I earn more than 400% of the poverty level in Florida?

You get no tax credit and pay the full Marketplace price. For healthy applicants, a private medically underwritten plan is often cheaper. I compare both for you at no cost.

Posey Health Solutions · National Producer Number 20609967 · licensed in Florida and 30 other states. This page is general information, not advice about a specific plan, and it is not tax advice. Plan availability, carrier participation, and duration limits vary by county, carrier, and plan year, and the rules can change.