Moving to Florida in 2026 creates one of the most consequential health coverage transitions in the US system, not just because you lose access to your old plan's provider network from move day, but because Florida stands apart from 40 other states by refusing to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Forty states plus DC extended Medicaid to adults at 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, creating a free or near-free safety net for low-income movers. Florida did not. A single adult earning $18,000 per year who moves from California (where Medi-Cal would cover them for free) to Florida will find that Florida Medicaid offers nothing for healthy adults without dependent children, regardless of income. That same person must purchase a Marketplace plan at healthcare.gov, where ACA premium tax credits can reduce costs substantially. The 60-day Special Enrollment Period from your move date is the legal window the ACA provides. Florida uses the federal exchange at healthcare.gov, not a state-run portal, which simplifies one step. Enrolling in the first two weeks of your move is strongly recommended: plans enrolled by the 15th of any month typically start coverage on the first of the following month, minimizing any coverage gap during your transition.
Florida's ACA Marketplace at healthcare.gov had more than 4 million enrollees in 2025 to 2026, making it one of the largest state Marketplace populations in the country. More than 95% of Florida Marketplace enrollees in 2026 qualified for premium tax credits, with average subsidies around $740 per month per the KFF 2026 Marketplace Premium Snapshot. The enhanced ACA subsidies from the American Rescue Plan Act expired January 1, 2026, which means the 400% FPL subsidy cliff is back for 2026: households above 400% FPL ($63,840 for a single adult) no longer receive premium tax credits. If your income is below 138% FPL and you are a healthy adult without dependent children, you fall into Florida's Medicaid coverage gap: too poor for Marketplace subsidies at the floor (which start at 100% FPL, or $15,960 single), yet ineligible for Florida Medicaid. Bronze plans at $0 net premium are available for people with incomes under 100% FPL who fall into the gap in non-expansion states, per healthcare.gov catastrophic plan rules. Florida KidCare covers children under 19 at family incomes up to 300% FPL (roughly $99,000 for a family of 4 in 2026). Apply immediately after establishing Florida residency; Florida KidCare enrollment is year-round and the Medicaid-funded component is free.
7 Steps to Get Coverage
Common Mistakes That Cost People Thousands
The most costly mistakes people make when moving to Florida and getting health insurance in 2026:
- Assuming Florida Medicaid will cover you as a working-age adult. Florida has not expanded Medicaid, so healthy adults without dependent children do not qualify regardless of income. Budget for a Marketplace plan instead of assuming free coverage.
- Continuing to use your old state's Marketplace plan in Florida. State-licensed plans do not cover Florida providers out-of-network on routine care. Your plan from California, New York, or any other state becomes effectively useless for non-emergency care the day you move to Florida.
- Missing the 60-day SEP deadline. Florida has no state-level SEP extension. If you miss the 60-day window from your move date, the next chance to enroll is November 1 through December 15, 2026 (for 2027 coverage). That could leave you uninsured for months.
- Using the wrong portal. Florida uses healthcare.gov, not a state-run exchange. Trying to enroll through another state's marketplace portal (like coveredca.com or nystateofhealth.ny.gov) for Florida coverage will fail and waste days of your SEP window.
- Forgetting to enroll children in Florida KidCare separately. Even if you qualify for a Marketplace plan as an adult, your children may be eligible for free or low-cost Florida KidCare at incomes up to 300% FPL. Apply at floridakidcare.org the same week you move; processing can take several weeks.
- Overestimating your 2026 income and losing subsidies. The 400% FPL subsidy cliff returned January 1, 2026, and Florida Marketplace premiums rose more than 20% from 2025. Report your best projected forward-looking income; underestimating triggers IRS repayment, but overestimating means you pay higher premiums than necessary.
Florida Medicaid Coverage Gap: What It Means If You Move Here with Low Income
Florida's decision not to expand Medicaid under the ACA creates a coverage gap that directly affects people who move here from expansion states. In the 40 states plus DC that did expand Medicaid, adults earning under 138% of the Federal Poverty Level ($22,025 for a single adult in 2026) qualify for free Medicaid coverage. Florida, one of 10 non-expansion states in 2026, applies much stricter criteria: healthy adults without dependent children are categorically excluded from Florida Medicaid at any income level. Parents with dependent children can qualify, but only at incomes under roughly 33% of FPL (approximately $7,380 per year for a family of 3 in 2026). Pregnant women qualify at higher income thresholds under a separate track. The result: someone who had Medi-Cal in California, AHCCCS in Arizona, MassHealth in Massachusetts, or Medicaid coverage in any other expansion state will find no equivalent program when they arrive in Florida with a low income.
ACA Marketplace plans at healthcare.gov fill part of this gap. Premium tax credits are available for Florida residents with incomes between 100% and 400% FPL. However, adults with incomes below 100% FPL ($15,960 single in 2026) face the full coverage gap: ineligible for Florida Medicaid and ineligible for ACA subsidies. Florida accounts for a large share of the national Medicaid coverage gap population. If you find yourself in this gap after moving to Florida, contact a navigator through coveringflorida.org for free enrollment assistance. Navigators can sometimes identify categories of eligibility (pregnancy, disability review, lawfully present immigrant eligibility) that are not immediately obvious from a self-guided healthcare.gov application.
Florida KidCare: Health Coverage for Children Under 19 After Moving
Florida KidCare is Florida's branded CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) covering children under age 19. KidCare enrollment is year-round with no 60-day deadline, which makes it one of the first steps for any family with children who moves to Florida. In 2026, Florida KidCare covers children in households with incomes up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level, which is approximately $99,000 per year for a family of 4. Children from birth to age 1 are covered through Florida Medicaid (at 200% FPL); ages 1 to 4 through MediKids; and ages 5 through 18 through the Healthy Kids component. The Medicaid component, covering children under 133% FPL, is free. Above 133% FPL, premiums range from modest to approximately $276 per month per child at the 300% FPL ceiling. Apply at floridakidcare.org or call 1-888-540-5437. Documentation needed: proof of Florida residency, child's birth certificate or proof of age, and proof of household income. Processing typically takes 4 to 6 weeks from application submission.
Florida KidCare eligibility for children does not depend on whether parents qualify for Medicaid or ACA subsidies. Children in the coverage gap (parents with income under 100% FPL who cannot get Marketplace subsidies) can still enroll in Florida KidCare. Children who move from Medicaid or CHIP in another state to Florida do not automatically transfer; they must enroll in Florida KidCare as new applicants. If a child was enrolled in Medicaid in the previous state, notify that state's Medicaid agency to terminate the prior enrollment; keeping double coverage creates administrative complications. Most Florida pediatricians accept Florida KidCare, but verify provider acceptance before enrolling in a specific KidCare plan.
Florida ACA Marketplace Plans: Carriers, Counties, and What to Expect in 2026
Florida's ACA Marketplace at healthcare.gov is one of the largest in the country, with more than 4 million enrollees in plan year 2026. Florida uses the federal platform exclusively because the state legislature has not established a state-run exchange. Carriers operating in Florida's 2026 Marketplace include Florida Blue (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida), Molina Healthcare, Ambetter from Celtic Insurance, Oscar Health, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna + Oscar, and several others varying by county. Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties offer the widest selection. Rural panhandle counties may have only 1 or 2 carriers, reducing plan choice significantly. Florida Marketplace premiums rose more than 20% from 2025 to 2026 following the expiration of enhanced ACA subsidies. For a 40-year-old non-smoker earning $40,000 per year moving to Miami, a benchmark Silver plan before subsidies runs approximately $550 to $700 per month; after premium tax credits, actual out-of-pocket premiums can drop to $150 to $300 per month. Use the plan comparison tool at healthcare.gov and filter by your specific Florida ZIP code and household size to see accurate 2026 subsidy estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to enroll in health insurance after moving to Florida?
You have 60 days from your Florida move date to enroll in an ACA Marketplace plan under the move-triggered Special Enrollment Period. For example, if you move to Florida on June 11, 2026, your SEP window runs through August 10, 2026. To qualify, you must have had minimum essential coverage for at least one of the 60 days before your move. Florida uses healthcare.gov, not a state exchange. If you miss the 60-day window, the next opportunity is the ACA Open Enrollment from November 1 through December 15, 2026, for 2027 coverage.
Does Florida Medicaid cover adults who move there with low income?
Generally no for healthy adults without dependent children. Florida has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, making it one of 10 states in 2026 that excludes most working-age adults from Medicaid eligibility regardless of income. Adults without dependent children do not qualify at any income level. Parents with dependent children may qualify if household income is under roughly 33% of the Federal Poverty Level (about $7,380 per year for a family of 3 in 2026). Pregnant women qualify at higher income thresholds. If you moved from a Medicaid expansion state like California (Medi-Cal), Arizona (AHCCCS), or Massachusetts (MassHealth), you will likely need to purchase a Marketplace plan at healthcare.gov instead.
What is Florida KidCare and how do I enroll my children?
Florida KidCare is Florida's CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) covering children under 19. In 2026, KidCare covers children in households with incomes up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level, which is approximately $99,000 per year for a family of 4. The Medicaid-funded component is free for children in households under 133% FPL. Above that threshold, monthly premiums range up to about $276 per child per month for the full-pay Healthy Kids plan. KidCare enrollment is year-round with no 60-day deadline. Apply at floridakidcare.org or call 1-888-540-5437. You will need proof of Florida residency, the child's birth certificate, and proof of household income.
Do I qualify for ACA subsidy help at healthcare.gov after moving to Florida?
You qualify for ACA premium tax credits if your 2026 projected household income is between 100% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level: $15,960 to $63,840 for a single adult, or $33,000 to $132,000 for a family of 4. The enhanced ACA subsidies from the American Rescue Plan Act expired January 1, 2026, so the 400% FPL subsidy cliff is back. Households above 400% FPL do not receive premium tax credits in 2026. If you find yourself below 100% FPL and unable to qualify for Florida Medicaid as an adult, contact a navigator through coveringflorida.org; some zero-premium Bronze plans may be available in the coverage gap.
What documents do I need to prove I moved to Florida for the SEP?
healthcare.gov requires proof of your Florida residency and move date. Acceptable documents include a signed Florida lease or mortgage statement, a utility activation notice showing your new Florida address and effective date, a Florida driver's license application receipt, or an official piece of government or financial correspondence at the new Florida address with a date. A forwarded piece of mail is typically not sufficient. You also need prior coverage documentation, Social Security numbers for all applicants, and a projected household income estimate for 2026 (pay stubs or an income projection if self-employed).
Which insurance carriers are available at healthcare.gov for Florida in 2026?
Florida's 2026 Marketplace at healthcare.gov includes Florida Blue (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida), Molina Healthcare, Ambetter from Celtic Insurance, Oscar Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Cigna plus Oscar, with availability varying by county. Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Hillsborough counties have the most options. Rural counties in the Florida panhandle and some central Florida counties may have only one or two carriers. Florida Marketplace premiums increased more than 20% from 2025 to 2026 following the expiration of enhanced ACA subsidies. Filter by your specific ZIP code on healthcare.gov to see the exact plans and 2026 premium estimates for your location.
What happens if I was on Medicaid in another state and move to Florida?
Medicaid does not transfer between states. Your prior state Medicaid coverage ends when you move, and you must apply separately in Florida. If you qualify for Florida Medicaid based on Florida's criteria (mainly children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities), apply through dcf.state.fl.us or healthcare.gov. If you do not qualify for Florida Medicaid (most healthy adults do not), you must enroll in an ACA Marketplace plan at healthcare.gov within 60 days using the move-triggered Special Enrollment Period. The loss of prior Medicaid coverage also independently qualifies as a triggering event for the Marketplace SEP.
What if I am in the Florida Medicaid coverage gap with income under 100% FPL?
Adults in Florida with income under 100% FPL who are not pregnant, disabled, or caring for children in a very low-income household may fall into the coverage gap: not eligible for Florida Medicaid and not eligible for ACA premium tax credits (which start at 100% FPL). Contact a navigator through coveringflorida.org or call 877-813-9115 for free enrollment assistance. Navigators can assess whether any Medicaid category applies (pregnancy, recent disability determination, etc.) and can help identify catastrophic or zero-cost Bronze plan options that may be available in certain counties. The Florida Legislature has not voted to expand Medicaid as of 2026, so no expansion is expected in the near term.
