You can get health insurance without an employer through the ACA Marketplace at HealthCare.gov, where subsidies are based on income; through Florida Medicaid or KidCare if you qualify; by joining a spouse’s employer plan; or through COBRA from a former job. Open Enrollment for 2027 runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027, and losing job-based coverage opens a 60-day Special Enrollment Period.
Millions of Americans get health insurance through their employer — a paycheck deduction, a card in the mail, and they’re covered. But if you’re between jobs, newly self-employed, retired early, or just working for a company that doesn’t offer benefits, you’re on your own. The good news is that “on your own” doesn’t mean “out of luck.” Florida residents without employer coverage have real options, and some are more affordable than people assume. Here’s a complete breakdown of every legitimate path to health insurance in Florida if you don’t have a job-based plan.
Option 1: The ACA Marketplace (healthcare.gov)
If you are self-employed, see also how to get health insurance as a self-employed business owner.
For most Floridians without employer coverage, the ACA marketplace at healthcare.gov is the primary — and often best — option. The marketplace was created specifically to give individuals and families access to private health insurance with financial assistance based on income.
Plans are available in every Florida county. Depending on where you live, for 2027 you may have access to carriers including Florida Blue, Ambetter from Sunshine Health, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare, AmeriHealth Caritas, AvMed, and 22 Health. Cigna and Molina are leaving Florida’s individual market for 2027. Florida Blue has the broadest statewide network and tends to be the most widely available; other carriers vary by county and region.
How to Enroll
- Go to healthcare.gov and create an account.
- Enter your household size, estimated annual income, and ZIP code.
- The site will show your estimated monthly premium tax credit (subsidy) and all available plans.
- Compare plans by premium, deductible, copays, network, and formulary.
- Select a plan and pay your first premium to activate coverage.
Open Enrollment and Special Enrollment
Open Enrollment for 2027 marketplace plans runs from November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027, with coverage starting January 1 if you enroll by December 15 (or February 1 if you enroll later). Outside of open enrollment, you can still enroll if you experience a qualifying life event — losing other health coverage, getting married, having a child, moving to a new coverage area, or certain income changes. Losing job-based coverage is one of the most common qualifying events and gives you a 60-day window to enroll in a marketplace plan.
Subsidies: What You Might Pay
Premium tax credits are available to households earning between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL). For 2027 coverage, that is roughly $15,960 to $63,840 for a single adult and $33,000 to $132,000 for a family of four. The enhanced subsidies that once extended help above 400% FPL expired at the end of 2025 and were not renewed, so households above that line now pay full price. The actual number depends entirely on your income, so the only way to know is to run your numbers; see understanding health insurance subsidies and tax credits.
Option 2: Florida Medicaid
If your income is low, you may qualify for Florida Medicaid — a state and federally funded program providing free or very low-cost coverage. But Florida has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, so low income alone does not qualify most adults. Non-disabled adults ages 21 to 64 without dependent children generally do not qualify, regardless of income. However, parents with dependent children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and the elderly have broader eligibility. You can apply at any time — there’s no set enrollment window — through Florida’s ACCESS Florida portal.
Option 3: A Spouse’s Employer Plan
If your spouse or domestic partner has employer-sponsored coverage, being added to their plan is often the most cost-effective option available to you. Employers typically allow spouses to be added during the plan’s annual open enrollment period, or within 30 to 60 days of a qualifying life event (such as you losing your own coverage). Premiums for dependent coverage vary widely — some employers subsidize family coverage generously, others less so — but you’re at least accessing group rates and employer-negotiated benefits.
Option 4: COBRA Continuation Coverage
If you recently left a job where you had health insurance, COBRA allows you to continue your exact same employer-sponsored plan for up to 18 months (sometimes longer in specific circumstances). The catch is significant: under COBRA, you pay the full premium — both your former share and the employer’s share — plus an administrative fee of up to 2%. What felt like a modest payroll deduction can cost several times as much under COBRA.
That said, COBRA has real value if you’re mid-treatment with specific doctors or hospitals, if you’ve already met your deductible for the year, or if you need a short bridge while waiting for marketplace enrollment. Just go in with eyes open about the cost.
Option 5: Association and Group Plans
Some professional associations, trade groups, alumni organizations, and local chambers of commerce offer access to group health insurance plans for their members. The quality, coverage, and pricing of these plans vary enormously. Before enrolling in any association plan, verify that it’s ACA-compliant — meaning it covers essential health benefits, doesn’t have annual or lifetime benefit caps, and can’t deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. Non-compliant plans can leave you significantly exposed when you actually need care.
Option 6: Florida KidCare
If you have children who don’t qualify for Medicaid but you can’t afford a marketplace family plan, Florida KidCare provides low-cost health coverage specifically for children from birth through age 18. Premium costs are on a sliding scale based on income and family size, and many Florida families qualify for very low monthly rates. If adults in the household go uninsured, at minimum making sure children have coverage through Florida KidCare is a critical safety net.
Option 7: Short-Term Health Plans
Short-term health plans are available in Florida and can provide a temporary coverage bridge (a 2024 federal rule caps them at 3 months initially and 4 months total, though federal agencies announced non-enforcement in August 2025) — for example, while you’re waiting for marketplace open enrollment, or in the gap between jobs. However, it’s important to understand what you’re buying: short-term plans are not ACA-compliant. They can deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, have annual benefit caps, and may exclude entire categories of care. They’re a legitimate stopgap for specific situations, but they are not a substitute for real health insurance and carry real risks if you actually get sick. Learn more about short-term healthcare coverage.
Option 8: Work With a Licensed Broker (at No Cost)
Navigating all of these options on your own — comparing plans across carriers, understanding subsidy calculations, checking network coverage for your specific doctors — is genuinely complex. A licensed health insurance broker can do all of that for you, at no cost to you (here’s why using a broker vs. buying direct matters). Brokers are compensated by the insurance carriers, not by clients, so their service is effectively free. A good local broker can pull every plan available in your Florida county side by side, walk you through subsidy eligibility, and help you make an apples-to-apples comparison rather than guessing on your own.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get health insurance if my job doesn’t offer it?
Most Floridians without employer coverage use the ACA Marketplace at HealthCare.gov, where premium tax credits are available for household incomes from 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level. Other options include a spouse’s employer plan, COBRA from a former job, Florida Medicaid or KidCare for eligible family members, and off-exchange ACA plans.
Can I get subsidies if I earn more than 400% of the poverty level?
Not for 2026 or 2027 coverage. The enhanced subsidies that extended help above 400% FPL expired at the end of 2025, and Congress did not extend them. For 2027 coverage, 400% FPL is about $63,840 for one person and $132,000 for a family of four. Above that, you pay the full premium.
Can I enroll in health insurance after losing my job?
Yes. Losing job-based coverage is a qualifying life event that gives you 60 days to enroll in a Marketplace plan through a Special Enrollment Period. You can also elect COBRA, usually within 60 days of receiving the election notice. Compare costs quickly so you do not leave a gap in coverage.
Does Florida Medicaid cover adults without children?
Generally, no. Florida has not expanded Medicaid, so most non-disabled adults ages 21 to 64 without dependent children do not qualify, regardless of income. Children, pregnant women, very low-income parents and caretakers, seniors, and people with qualifying disabilities have separate eligibility paths. Apply through ACCESS Florida to confirm.
Looking for coverage outside an employer plan? Get every option in your county compared side by side. Talk with Michael McAllister, owner of Choice Health Insurance Brokers in DeLand and a licensed broker appointed with 200 carriers (NPN 18229135). Call or text 321-230-9536 or visit choice.healthcare to get started.