Florida’s open enrollment for 2027 marketplace coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027, and you have until December 15 to pick a plan that starts on January 1. If mental health care is part of your life, or could be next year, check four things before you enroll: your therapist’s network status, the plan type, the mental health cost rows, and the out-of-pocket maximum. This guide shows Florida adults how to do that, with the 2027 carrier changes that affect your choices.
Florida has more marketplace shoppers than any other state. About 4.5 million Floridians picked a plan during the last open enrollment, so small choices here add up for a lot of families.
This article is informational, not clinical or financial advice. Verify benefits directly with your carrier and a licensed clinician before starting treatment.
What are Florida’s key dates for 2027 coverage?
Florida uses HealthCare.gov rather than a state-run exchange, so the official HealthCare.gov deadlines apply statewide.
- Open enrollment starts: November 1, 2026.
- Deadline for January 1 coverage: December 15, 2026.
- Open enrollment ends: January 15, 2027, with coverage starting February 1.
- Job-based coverage: set by your employer, usually in the fall. Missing it generally locks you into your current choice for another year.
That 4.5 million figure comes from CMS’s 2026 open enrollment data, which counted 4,538,772 plan selections in Florida, with Texas a close second. With a market that size, carriers come and go more often than people expect, and 2027 is one of those years.
Which carriers filed to sell Florida marketplace plans in 2027?
These companies filed 2027 rates for Florida marketplace plans in the federal rate review database. The names below are the brands you’ll see when you shop, with the filing company in parentheses where it differs.
| Carrier or brand | 2026 plan types in Florida | 2027 status |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Blue (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida; Health Options) | HMO, POS, EPO, PPO | Filed |
| AvMed | HMO | Filed |
| Oscar | HMO | Filed, plus a second Oscar company |
| Ambetter Health (Centene Venture Company Florida) | HMO | Filed |
| Wellpoint (Simply Healthcare Plans) | HMO | Filed |
| UnitedHealthcare | HMO | Filed |
| AmeriHealth Caritas Next | HMO | Filed |
| Health First, Capital Health Plan, Florida Health Care Plans | HMO (plus POS for Florida Health Care Plans) | Filed |
| Cigna | HMO, EPO | Leaving for 2027 |
| Molina, 22 Health | HMO | Not in the 2027 filings |
Cigna has confirmed it will stop offering individual and family medical plans for 2027. If you’re on a Cigna marketplace plan now, you have to switch. If you’re with Molina or 22 Health, watch for your insurer’s renewal notice and plan to compare new options.
The requested average increases range from about 4% to about 39%, depending on the company. Those are only requests, and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation reviews them, and tax credits change what many enrollees actually pay. Compare real prices in the HealthCare.gov plan preview once 2027 plans post.
HMO, EPO, POS, or PPO: which plan type works for mental health care?
Most Florida marketplace plans are HMOs, and the gap isn’t close. In CMS plan data for 2026, 316 of the 410 individual plans sold in Florida were HMOs. Only 14 were PPOs, and all 14 came from Florida Blue.
| Plan type | Florida marketplace plans in 2026 | What it means for therapy and IOP |
|---|---|---|
| HMO | 316 | In-network care only, except emergencies. Lowest premiums, narrowest choice. |
| EPO | 45 | Also in-network only, but usually no primary care referral needed. |
| POS | 35 | A primary doctor coordinates care. Some out-of-network coverage, usually at a higher cost. |
| PPO | 14 | Largest network and some out-of-network benefits. Highest premiums. |
A PPO is worth its higher premium mainly when you see, or want to keep seeing, a clinician who is outside every HMO network you can buy. If your therapist is in network with a cheaper HMO, the PPO’s extra flexibility may not be worth paying for.
Florida Blue sells several network types: myBlue HMO, BlueCare POS, BlueSelect EPO, and BlueOptions PPO, among others. Which ones appear in your county on HealthCare.gov varies. Our Florida Blue HMO vs PPO guide compares them for mental health in more depth.
What will therapy and IOP actually cost on each plan?
Start with the ceiling, then work down from there. For 2027, most marketplace and employer plans can’t set an in-network out-of-pocket maximum above $12,000 for an individual or $24,000 for a family. Many plans set theirs lower, and that number is often the most useful one on the page.
Then answer one question: will you use care often enough to beat the premium difference? A simple break-even check answers that in three steps.
- Find the yearly premium gap between two plans. A plan that costs $80 more a month costs $960 more a year.
- Find what one therapy visit costs you on each plan. Say a visit costs you $120 before the deductible on the cheaper plan, and a $25 copay on the other. You save $95 a visit.
- Divide. $960 divided by $95 is about 10 visits. Past that point, the pricier plan comes out ahead.
Those figures are examples, so swap in your own. Someone in weekly therapy passes 10 visits by March. Someone considering an intensive outpatient program, which means nine or more hours of structured care a week, should mainly compare deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Our Florida virtual IOP cost guide shows how those pieces fit together.
How should you handle employer open enrollment in Florida?
Employer plans can include PPO and EPO choices that the marketplace mostly lacks. The same homework applies, with two extra steps.
- Find out who runs behavioral health. Many carriers use a separate company for mental health networks. Florida Blue, for example, names Lucet as its behavioral health care administrator. When you check a therapist’s network status, ask about that network too.
- Confirm the clinician is taking new patients. In a national survey in Psychiatric Services, 34% of people who went out of network for mental health care said in-network clinicians weren’t taking new patients. Thirty percent pointed to inaccurate directories.
Also look for an employee assistance program and a health savings or flexible spending account. Either can lower what you spend on therapy next year. If you’re weighing a Florida employer plan with UnitedHealthcare, our UnitedHealthcare Florida guide covers how it handles virtual IOP.
How to Find the Most Trusted Intensive Outpatient Clinic in the U.S.Mental Health
Six questions to ask before you pick a plan
You can answer most of these from the plan’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage. For the rest, call the member services number listed for the plan you’re considering.
- “Is my therapist, by name, in network for this exact plan in 2027?”
- “For outpatient mental health visits, do I pay a copay, or does the deductible apply first?”
- “Do I need a referral from a primary care doctor to see a therapist or psychiatrist?”
- “Is intensive outpatient care covered, and does it need prior authorization?”
- “Are video visits and virtual programs covered at the same cost as in-person care?”
- “Is my medication on the drug list, and at what tier?”
Write down who you spoke with and the date. If a bill later doesn’t match what you were told, that note makes a dispute much easier.
Where can Floridians get free help?
- Enrollment help: free, trained assisters are listed by ZIP code at HealthCare.gov local help.
- Insurance problems: the Florida Department of Financial Services runs a consumer helpline for insurance questions and complaints at 1-877-693-5236.
- How treatment is billed: our virtual IOP insurance page explains how Thrive works with commercial plans.
One more point before you go shopping: your 2026 plan covers you through December 31. If you need care now, start it now. Waiting for a new plan year rarely helps, and a deductible you’ve already met this year can make the next few months cheaper.
Common questions about open enrollment and mental health in Florida
When can I sign up for a 2027 Florida marketplace plan?
From November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Choose by December 15 if you want coverage to start January 1.
Is Cigna still selling marketplace plans in Florida for 2027?
No. Cigna says it won’t offer individual and family medical plans for 2027. Current members need to choose a new plan during open enrollment.
Are PPO plans available on Florida’s marketplace?
In 2026, yes, but only from Florida Blue, and they made up a small share of plans. Check HealthCare.gov for what’s offered in your county for 2027.
Do Florida marketplace plans cover therapy and IOP?
Yes. Mental health care is an essential health benefit, and parity law bars stricter limits than for medical care. What differs is cost sharing, networks, and whether prior authorization is needed.
Is an HMO a bad choice if I see a therapist?
Not if your therapist is in the HMO’s network. It can be a good value. It becomes a problem when the clinician you need is out of network, since HMOs usually don’t cover that care.
What if I miss the December 15 deadline?
You can still enroll through January 15, and coverage starts February 1. After that, you’ll need a qualifying life event to sign up.
Next steps
If you’re comparing plans and want to know what treatment would cost on each, ask before you enroll. Thrive Mental Health is a Joint Commission accredited provider of virtual intensive outpatient care for adults in Florida, Indiana, Arizona, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. Our admissions team can look at your current plan or one you’re weighing and walk you through the numbers.
Verify your coverage with Thrive: free, confidential benefits check. Most members receive a summary within 24 hours, and many start the same week. Prefer to talk first? Call (561) 203-6085.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized clinical advice or insurance verification.
