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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.

At a glance

Short-term plans are allowed in Florida. Under Florida's own statute (Fla. Stat. 627.6426), the initial term is less than 12 months.
Florida law allows a total duration up to 36 months, taking into account renewals or extensions.
Important Florida nuance: some carrier forms may still be filed to the shorter federal template, so the actual term you can buy depends on the carrier's approved form.
Plans are medically underwritten and don't cover pre-existing conditions. Florida uses HealthCare.gov and has not expanded Medicaid.

What Florida allows

Florida permits short-term health insurance under its own statute, Fla. Stat. 627.6426. That statute defines a short-term policy as one with "an expiration date specified in the contract that is less than 12 months after the original effective date" and, "taking into account renewals or extensions," a duration "not to exceed 36 months in total." Those duration limits were unchanged by the 2024 amendment (ch. 2024-139), which added only disclosure requirements.

Here's the Florida-specific wrinkle worth understanding. Florida's Department of Financial Services consumer page displays a "less than 3 months / 4 months" figure — but that tracks the 2024 federal rule, not Florida's statute. That federal rule is currently not being enforced (per the August 7, 2025 federal statement), and Florida has not issued its own short-term insurance memorandum since then. The practical result: Florida law permits up to a 36-month total, but some carrier forms may still be filed and approved to the shorter federal template. So the actual initial term and total duration you can buy depend on the specific carrier's approved form — always confirm the term on the plan you're considering.

Florida also requires strong disclosures. Under 627.6426(2)-(3), you must receive a signed ACA-noncompliance disclaimer in no less than 12-point type at the time of purchase, plus disclosure of the duration and any waiting period, the missing essential health benefits, the content of coverage, and pre-existing exclusions. These plans are medically underwritten, do not cover pre-existing conditions, are not ACA minimum essential coverage, and may impose annual or lifetime dollar limits. Individual short-term forms and rates must be filed and approved by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation before they can be marketed.

Your options in Florida

If you're a Florida resident weighing your choices, here's what's realistically on the table (described as coverage types, not specific products):

Short-term health insurance — temporary, medically underwritten coverage. Florida statute allows up to a 36-month total, but the term you can actually buy depends on the carrier's approved form, so read it before you commit.
ACA marketplace plans — comprehensive major-medical coverage sold through HealthCare.gov. These cover essential health benefits, can't turn you down for pre-existing conditions, and may come with income-based subsidies.
Fixed indemnity and other excepted benefits — supplemental coverage that pays limited, defined benefits. Allowed in Florida and treated as supplemental — not a substitute for major medical.
Medicaid — Florida has not expanded Medicaid, so eligibility is limited mostly to specific categories (children, pregnancy, disability, very low-income parents). Some adults fall into a coverage gap; it's still worth checking eligibility.

As an independent, carrier-neutral brokerage, we don't steer you to any single insurer — the right fit depends on your health, budget, and how long you need coverage.

How enrollment works here

Florida uses the federally facilitated marketplace at HealthCare.gov for ACA plans. Enrollment there works on a schedule:

Open Enrollment happens once a year, typically each fall through early winter, for coverage that starts the following January.
Special Enrollment Periods are available year-round if you have a qualifying life event — for example, losing job-based coverage, moving, getting married, or having a baby.

Short-term health insurance is different: because it isn't an ACA plan, you can generally apply for it any time of year, subject to Florida's duration limits, the carrier's approved form, and underwriting. It can start quickly and outside of Open Enrollment — but it won't qualify you for ACA subsidies.

What it costs

We don't quote premiums on this page — prices change and depend on your specific situation — but here are the factors that drive the cost of coverage in Florida:

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 — short-term pricing reflects how long the coverage runs, and in Florida the available term depends on the carrier's approved form.
Medical underwriting — because short-term plans in Florida are underwritten, your health history can affect both eligibility and price.

For ACA marketplace plans, cost works differently: your premium depends on income (which determines subsidy eligibility), age, county, tobacco use, and the metal level you pick. Many Floridians qualify for subsidies that lower the monthly cost.

MG Matthew T. Giberti Licensed Expert · NPN 20698856 · Updated July 2026

Short-term health insurance is not major medical coverage and is not minimum essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act. These plans are medically underwritten, may exclude pre-existing 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. Short-term coverage does not satisfy any applicable coverage requirements and 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 and Department of Financial Services guidance as of the last-reviewed date and can change; confirm current terms and the specific plan's approved form before you enroll.