The Best Health Insurance in Florida

Health insurance helps pay for your medical bills and health care costs. But shopping around for the right company can be overwhelming, especially for first-time buyers.

To help you find the best provider for your needs, MoneyGeek rounded up the best health insurance companies in Florida based on cost, customer service and metal tier options. We also break down the best companies for different buyer profiles to show you which are best for families, seniors and those on a budget.

With a total score of 95 out of 100, Florida Health Care Plans is MoneyGeek's pick for the best health insurance in Florida. According to MoneyGeek’s analysis, Florida Health Care Plans is the most affordable provider in Florida and received high ratings for customer satisfaction and plan options. However, the best health insurance for you will still depend on your budget and unique health concerns.

Florida Blue (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida) is the runner-up for best health insurance company in Florida, earning high ratings on affordability, customer service and plan options. The company received a MoneyGeek score of 88 out of 100.

Health insurance costs include more than just your premium — copayments, co-insurance and deductibles all figure into what you’ll pay for a health plan. A high-deductible plan usually has lower premiums, which means more out-of-pocket costs. Age and family size can also impact the cost of health insurance in Florida.

Weighing the cost of annual premiums against the expected cost of care is an essential part of choosing an affordable health insurance plan. For example, if you don’t have many health care needs, paying out-of-pocket all year may be cheaper than paying for a health care plan with higher monthly premiums.

MoneyGeek also identified the following providers offering affordable health insurance plans in Florida:

• Florida Blue (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida): Average maximum out-of-pocket: $6,881
• AvMed: Average maximum out-of-pocket: $6,921

In addition to having a lower out-of-pocket maximum, Florida Blue has better customer service and more plan options than AvMed.

Health care customer service encompasses things like accessibility to agents, claim management and speed of reimbursement. Choosing an insurer with quality service means you can quickly get help if an issue arises and rest assured that your claims will be processed efficiently and fairly.

To calculate a company’s customer service score, MoneyGeek considered ratings from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) in conjunction with cost value.

Other health insurance companies in Florida with excellent customer service scores include:

• Florida Blue (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida): Customer service score of 4.5 out of 5
• Bright Health: Customer service score of 5 out of 5

Although Bright Health and Florida Blue scored well for customer service in Florida, both companies charge higher costs that offset their overall value in this category.

Some health insurance companies in Florida offer HMO plans. HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plans are generally low-cost but restrict your coverage to a group of in-network providers. They also require referrals from your primary physician to see specialists for covered services (except emergencies).

You should consider HMOs if you don’t have any provider preferences or substantial health care needs. In Florida, the average cost of an HMO plan is $560 per month for a 40-year-old policyholder.

If you want to peruse other Florida health insurance providers offering HMO plans, the following companies also scored well:

• AvMed: Average maximum out-of-pocket: $6,921
• Florida Blue HMO (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida): Average maximum out-of-pocket: $7,212

Each of these companies earned above-average scores for customer service and plan options, making them commendable runners-up for providers offering HMOs in Florida.

One way to lower your insurance costs is by combining a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA). This allows you to pay your higher deductible and other qualified medical expenses using tax-exempt funds in your HSA.

Tax laws require HDHPs to set a minimum deductible. In 2022, the minimum deductible is $1,400 for an individual and $2,800 for a family. There’s also a cap on what you can contribute to your HSA. In 2022, that’s up to $3,650 for self-only coverage or $7,300 for family coverage.

Note that your HSA rolls over from one year to another. However, you cannot use HSA funds to pay your premiums.

In addition to Oscar Insurance Company of Florida, MoneyGeek recommends the following health insurance companies in Florida with HSA-eligible plans:

• Florida Health Care Plans: $397 per month
• Bright Health: $400 per month

In addition to having a slightly less expensive average monthly premium, Florida Health Care Plans offers more plan options, whereas Bright Health offers only EPO plans.

A family health insurance plan covers designated family members — often your spouse and children under age 26 — under one policy and cost structure. Family plans get more expensive as you add more people to the policy. Nevertheless, bundling the family under one plan is usually cheaper than insuring each member individually.

Other Florida health insurance companies worth considering for family plan coverage include:

• Oscar Insurance Company of Florida: $1,331 per month for a family of four
• Health First Commercial Plans, Inc.: $1,389 per month for a family of four

These runner-up companies are similar in pricing but performed worse in customer satisfaction.

In addition to family size, the metal tier also affects the cost of health insurance. Use the chart below to compare average monthly premiums for individuals and families in Florida according to different tier types.

Although most people become eligible for Medicare at age 65, private health insurance is still important for early retirees. Moreover, original Medicare covers just the basic medical expenses.

Shopping around for the best Medicare Advantage plans is ideal for older adults who want more robust benefits and to bundle their health and medical expenses under one policy. Note that premiums are usually higher for seniors because they require more medical attention.

Other top-rated health insurance companies in Florida for seniors include:

• Health First Commercial Plans, Inc.: $923 per month
• Oscar Insurance Company of Florida: $884 per month

Although Oscar Insurance Company of Florida features a lower average premium, Health First Commercial Plans, Inc. outperformed the former in customer service and plan options.

When it comes to health insurance, there’s no such thing as the perfect plan — the right option for you will depend on your unique health care needs. MoneyGeek outlines the steps that will help you in this process.

• Understand your needs and preferences: Take stock of your health care needs and choose a plan that aligns with your preferences. You can do this by studying a health plan’s summary of benefits.
• Search your preferred doctors: If you have chosen physicians, make sure they are available in your plan’s network before finalizing your purchase.
• Review your costs: It's essential to assess your copays, deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums and premiums to get the complete picture of expected expenses. Remember that a flat fee is often better than a co-insurance percentage.
• Confirm prescriptions: Ensure your prescriptions are covered or affordable before purchasing a health plan. Some insurance companies cover the cost of select medications when you refill at their pharmacies.

Understanding all aspects of your health insurance plan in advance can help you avoid unexpected costs.

The Health Insurance Marketplace lets you shop for plans that meet your needs and budget. It was established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to provide health insurance coverage to uninsured Americans and to standardize the process.

Although some states have their own marketplaces, Florida uses the federal exchange for health insurance. Florida residents can browse the marketplace and choose a new plan during the open enrollment period, which usually extends from November 1 until January 15, with a December 15 deadline to begin coverage on January 1.

Outside of open enrollment, it’s possible to change your plan if you recently lost your health insurance due to a qualifying event, such as changing jobs or the death of a spouse.

Navigating the complexities of health insurance plans can be overwhelming. To ease this process, MoneyGeek collected your most commonly asked questions and provided answers below.