If you buy your own health coverage through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, 2026 has been a difficult year for your budget. Florida has more Marketplace enrollees than any other state, and Florida households have felt this year's changes more than almost anywhere else in the country. Here is what happened, why it happened, and what you can do about it.

Why Premiums Jumped So Much This Year

The extra premium tax credits that Congress put in place during the pandemic expired at the end of 2025. Those enhanced credits had been covering a large share of monthly premiums for millions of Marketplace shoppers, including many in Florida who previously paid very little out of pocket. With that extra help gone, a large number of Florida households saw their net monthly payment rise sharply for the exact same plan they had the year before.

On top of the subsidy change, insurers also raised their base rates for 2026 to account for rising medical and prescription drug costs, and because they expect healthier customers to leave the Marketplace now that coverage costs more. When healthier people drop out, the remaining pool of policyholders costs more to insure on average, which pushes rates up further the following year.

Who Was Affected Most

Households that previously qualified for large subsidies, particularly those with incomes between roughly 300% and 400% of the federal poverty level, saw some of the steepest increases in their net premium. Floridians earning above 400% of the poverty level lost access to any federal subsidy at all and are now responsible for the full sticker price of their plan.

What You Can Do About It

The most important step is to actively shop your coverage rather than letting your current plan renew automatically. Subsidy amounts are recalculated every year based on your income and the cost of the benchmark plan in your county, so a different plan or a different metal tier (bronze, silver, or gold) may now be a better value than the one you have.

Make sure your prior-year tax return has been filed and reconciled, since this is required to continue receiving a subsidy. It's also worth checking whether a spouse's employer plan, a health-sharing option, or Medicaid (for children or pregnant women, since Florida has not expanded Medicaid to all low-income adults) might be a better fit for part of your household.

Open Enrollment for 2027 Marketplace coverage is expected to begin November 1. Because rates and subsidy eligibility can shift meaningfully from one year to the next, this is the single best time to have a licensed local agent shop the full market on your behalf, at no cost to you, rather than assuming last year's plan is still your best option.

A Local Agent Can Make This Easier

Comparing Marketplace plans on your own can be confusing, especially with subsidy rules changing and provider networks shifting from year to year. Working with an independent agent who knows the Florida market means someone else is doing the comparison shopping for you, and you still pay nothing extra for the help. If you want a second opinion on your current plan or you are shopping for coverage for the first time, reach out and we'll walk through your options together.