Individual and family health insurance in Tampa
If you're self-employed, between jobs, or your employer doesn't offer a plan, the marketplace is usually where your coverage comes from. The hard part isn't finding a plan, it's picking the right one out of dozens, and getting the subsidy estimate right so there's no surprise at tax time.
When people call about health coverage
- You left or lost a job and employer coverage is ending
- You're self-employed or paid on a 1099 and have never had a plan
- You turned 26 and aged off a parent's plan
- You moved to Florida and your old plan doesn't work here
- Your household income changed and your subsidy should too
- Open enrollment is on and you want someone to compare plans with
If you've just lost coverage
- Mark the day coverage ends. Loss of coverage opens a 60-day special enrollment period on the marketplace. Enroll before the end of the month and the new plan can start the first of the next month.
- Get the COBRA numbers. Your employer must offer COBRA, but you pay the full premium. Compare it against a subsidized marketplace plan before deciding.
- Estimate this year's income. Subsidies are based on your expected household income for the year. A careful estimate now avoids repaying money in April.
- Bring your doctor list. Networks vary widely between insurers in Tampa. Every plan is checked against your doctors and prescriptions before you pick.
What the agent does
Plan comparison
Bronze through Gold plans from the insurers selling in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas, laid out by premium, deductible and out-of-pocket maximum.
Subsidy estimate
Working through your household size and expected income so the premium tax credit is right from the start.
Network and drug checks
Confirming your doctors, hospital and prescriptions are covered by each plan before you enroll.
Enrollment
Submitting the application through the marketplace and uploading any documents it asks for.
Mid-year changes
Reporting income changes, new babies, moves and marriages so coverage and subsidies stay accurate.
Off-marketplace options
Short-term and other plans for people who don't qualify for a subsidy, with the limits of those plans spelled out.
What affects the price
- Household size and expected income, which set the subsidy.
- Metal tier: Bronze plans cost less monthly and more when you use care; Gold is the reverse.
- Ages of everyone on the plan.
- Whether you use tobacco.
- The insurer and network type (HMO, EPO or PPO).
You see the premium and what the plan covers in writing before you apply. The insurer sets the rate and makes the final decision on your application.
Health coverage in Florida
Florida has the largest ACA marketplace enrollment of any state, and it uses the federal site, healthcare.gov, rather than its own exchange. Because Florida did not expand Medicaid, adults with very low income can fall into a gap where they qualify for neither Medicaid nor a subsidy, and the only fix is an accurate income projection. Open enrollment runs from November 1 to January 15; outside that window you need a qualifying event such as a job loss, a move or a new baby.
Tampa's hospital systems don't all appear in every network. Tampa General, BayCare, AdventHealth, HCA and Moffitt each sit inside some plans and outside others, and an HMO that leaves out the one you use is a bad buy at any price. If you're on Medicare or about to be, see Medicare plans instead.
Common questions
How much does health insurance cost in Tampa?
It depends on your age, income and the plan tier. With a subsidy, some households pay very little; without one, premiums are substantial. You'll see exact numbers for your household before you decide.
Can I enroll outside open enrollment?
Only with a qualifying life event: losing other coverage, moving, marriage, a birth or adoption, or certain income changes. Most events give you 60 days.
What's the catch with a cheap Bronze plan?
A high deductible. It protects you from a catastrophe but you'll pay most routine care out of pocket until you hit it. That's fine for some households and not for others.
Is the agent paid by me or the insurer?
The insurer. Your premium is the same whether you enroll with an agent or on your own; the agent's help costs you nothing.
Related services
- Disability insuranceIncome protection for self-employed people and anyone whose paycheck has no backup.
- Term life insuranceAffordable coverage for the years a mortgage and kids depend on your income.
- Group benefits for small businessHealth, dental, vision and life benefits for businesses with 2 to 50 employees.
Areas we serve
Individual and family health plans across Tampa and these nearby communities: