Extended Short Term Health Insurance in Florida

Florida statute allows an initial term under 12 months and up to 36 months total. The term you can actually buy depends on the carrier's approved form.

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Matthew T. Giberti Matthew T. Giberti Published July 2026 4 min read
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At a glance

Extended (long duration) short term coverage is available in Florida: an initial term under 12 months, with a total duration up to 36 months.
The duration rests on Florida's own statute (Fla. Stat. 627.6426), which sets an initial term of less than 12 months and a total not to exceed 36 months.
The term you can actually buy depends on the carrier's approved form, some forms may still be filed to the shorter federal template, so confirm the specific plan.
It's still not ACA coverage, for a genuinely long term need, compare an ACA plan via HealthCare.gov. Florida has not expanded Medicaid, so some adults fall into a coverage gap.
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What Florida allows for extended coverage

Florida permits short term plans to run beyond a single short term, and it does so by statute. Under Fla. Stat. 627.6426(1), a short term policy has an expiration date less than 12 months after the original effective date and, taking into account renewals or extensions, a total duration not to exceed 36 months. Those duration limits were unchanged by the 2024 amendment, which added disclosure requirements only.

There is an important caveat unique to Florida. The state's own statutory ceiling is up to 36 months, but the Florida Department of Financial Services consumer page still displays the shorter federal 3-month/4-month template, and Florida issued no post-August-2025 informational memorandum revising it. As a result, specific carrier forms may still be filed to the federal template, so the term you can actually buy depends on the individual carrier's approved form. Individual short term forms and rates must be filed with and approved by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation before marketing.

For context, the 2024 federal rule that would cap short term plans at a 3-month initial term and a 4-month total is currently not being enforced (per the August 7, 2025 federal statement). Florida's own statute, under 12 months initial, up to a 36-month total, is the state framework, but because some forms track the federal template, the buyable term varies by carrier. These plans remain medically underwritten, may exclude preexisting conditions, may impose annual or lifetime dollar limits, and are not ACA minimum essential coverage. A signed ACA-noncompliance disclosure is required at purchase.

Your extended options in Florida

For a longer coverage gap, here's what's realistically on the table (described as coverage types, not specific products):

Renewable or consecutive term short term plans, Florida's statute allows a total up to 36 months, but the term you can actually buy depends on the carrier's approved form, so confirm the initial term and total duration on the specific plan before you rely on them.
ACA marketplace plans, the comprehensive route for a genuinely long term need: they cover essential health benefits, are guaranteed issue, and may come with income based subsidies (through HealthCare.gov).
Supplemental products such as fixed indemnity exist, but they aren't comprehensive coverage and aren't a substitute for a major medical plan.

As an independent, carrier neutral brokerage, we don't push any single insurer. Extended short term coverage can bridge a longer gap, but if you need comprehensive coverage for the long haul, an ACA plan is usually the better fit.

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How enrollment works here

Extended short term coverage isn't tied to Open Enrollment, you can generally apply year round, subject to the Florida duration limits, the carrier's approved form, and its underwriting. It can start quickly and outside of Open Enrollment, but it won't qualify you for ACA subsidies.

For comprehensive coverage, Florida uses the federally facilitated marketplace at HealthCare.gov, where ACA plans have an annual Open Enrollment (typically each fall through early winter) and Special Enrollment Periods for qualifying life events like losing job based coverage, moving, or having a baby. Florida has not expanded Medicaid, so eligibility there is limited mostly to specific categories and some adults fall into a coverage gap.

What it costs

We don't quote premiums here, prices depend on your situation, but the cost of extended short term coverage in Florida is driven by:

Your age, older applicants generally pay more.
Where you live in Florida, pricing varies by county and rating area.
Tobacco use, often affects the rate.
Who's covered, an individual, a couple, or a whole family.
The deductible and coverage level you choose, lower out of pocket exposure usually means a higher premium.
The length of the term, pricing reflects how long the coverage runs, up to whatever total the carrier's approved form allows toward Florida's 36-month ceiling.
Medical underwriting, because these plans are underwritten at application, your health history can affect both eligibility and price.

For an ACA plan, cost works differently: it depends on income (which determines subsidy eligibility), age, county, tobacco use, and the metal tier you pick.

Matthew T. Giberti Matthew T. Giberti Licensed Insurance Producer · National Producer Number: 20698856 Licensed Insurance Producer · National Producer Number: 20698856 About Matthew →

Extended short term health insurance is a longer duration form of short term, limited duration coverage. It is not major medical coverage and is not minimum essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act. These plans are medically underwritten, may exclude preexisting conditions, and are not required to cover essential health benefits such as maternity care, prescription drugs, mental health services, or preventive care. They may impose annual or lifetime dollar limits and are generally not guaranteed renewable. In Florida, the term you can actually purchase depends on the carrier's approved form, which may be filed to a shorter federal template. Short term coverage does not qualify you for ACA premium subsidies.

GetHealthPlans.com® is operated by MTG Insurance Agency, an independent, carrier neutral brokerage. We do not issue insurance and are not a government agency or the health insurance marketplace. Regulatory details on this page reflect Florida law and Florida Office of Insurance Regulation guidance as of the last reviewed date and can change; confirm current terms and the specific plan's approved form before you enroll.