How to Choose an ACA Marketplace Plan for 2027 (Florida Guide)

ACA Health InsuranceHealth Insurance GuidesMarketplace EnrollmentHow to Choose a Plan

Oct 31

Insurance isn't sexy, so we get creative with it.

Picking a Marketplace plan can feel like ordering off a 40-page menu in a language you kind of speak. Bronze, Silver, HMO, EPO, deductible, coinsurance... yeah. This guide walks you through choosing a 2027 ACA plan in plain English: when to sign up, how the money works now, and how to dodge the classic "I picked the cheapest plan and my doctor isn't in it" move.

I'm Darius Mills. Our team has over 10 years of combined experience helping people sort out health insurance. We're based in Melbourne, FL, we're licensed in all 50 states, and most of our clients are here in Central Florida: the Space Coast, Orlando and Tampa.

Mark your calendar

Florida uses HealthCare.gov. For 2027 coverage:

Nov 1, 2026: Open Enrollment opens.
Dec 15, 2026: Enroll by today for coverage starting Jan 1, 2027.
Jan 15, 2027: Open Enrollment closes. Sign up Dec 16 – Jan 15 and coverage starts Feb 1.

After Jan 15, you generally need a qualifying life event (moving, losing other coverage, getting married, having a baby) to sign up. If you're outside Florida, some states that run their own marketplace use different dates, so check yours.

On Medicare? Different schedule. Medicare Open Enrollment runs Oct 15 – Dec 7, and Medicare plans aren't sold on the ACA Marketplace.

What changed for 2027 (the short version)

The extra subsidies are gone. The "enhanced" premium tax credits Congress added in 2021 expired at the end of 2025. As of now, they haven't come back.
The 400% cliff is back. If your household income is above 400% of the federal poverty level, you generally get no premium tax credit. For 2027 that's $63,840 for one person and $132,000 for a family of four.
Prices are up. Insurers nationwide asked for a median 15% increase for 2027. In Florida, the state's approved individual-market numbers show an average of about 10.4% before subsidies, and some insurers went well above that.
Some insurers are leaving. Cigna is exiting the ACA individual market, and it isn't on Florida's 2027 plan list. More on that in our post: Cigna is leaving the ACA marketplace in 2027 — what Brevard County residents need to know.
Your out-of-pocket ceiling is higher. The most a Marketplace plan can make you pay for covered in-network care in 2027 is $12,000 for one person / $24,000 for a family, up from $10,600 / $21,200.
Tax time got stricter. If you underestimate your income, you now pay back all of the extra tax credit. The old repayment caps are gone.
Fewer immigrants qualify for help. Starting in 2027, federal subsidies for noncitizens are generally limited to green card holders, Cuban-Haitian entrants and COFA migrants.

Step 1: Know what you're shopping for

Most people get coverage from one of these:

A job (yours or a spouse's)
An ACA Marketplace plan (self-employed, gig workers, early retirees, anyone without job coverage)
Medicare
Medicaid or CHIP, if you qualify

Self-employed or stacking side gigs? The Marketplace is usually home base, and a broker can line up your options side by side.

Step 2: Figure out the money (2027 rules)

Who gets help: Premium tax credits are generally for households between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. That's $63,840 for a single person and $132,000 for a family of four in 2027. Go over the line by even a little and you're generally paying full price.
How much you pay: The 2027 IRS table expects you to put 2.15% to 10.22% of your household income toward a benchmark Silver plan, depending on income. The tax credit covers the rest.
Report changes fast: Got a raise, landed a big client, got married? Update the Marketplace. Starting with tax year 2026, you have to pay back the full amount of any extra credit you got.
File your taxes: If you got a tax credit, file your taxes and reconcile it every year. As of October 2026, HealthCare.gov isn't cutting off 2027 help over one missed year, but your tax return is still where any extra credit gets paid back.

Step 3: Match the metal tier to how you actually use care

Bronze: Lowest premiums, highest costs when you need care. Good if you're healthy and mostly want protection from a disaster. Every Bronze plan is now HSA-eligible (more below).
Silver: The middle option. If your income qualifies for cost-sharing reductions, Silver is the only tier that gets them, which means lower deductibles, copays and out-of-pocket limits.
Gold / Platinum: Higher premiums, lower costs when you see the doctor. Worth a look if you have regular prescriptions, specialists or a planned procedure.
Catastrophic: Very low premium, very high deductible. Generally for people under 30, or people with a hardship or affordability exemption. No premium tax credits.

Always check the worst case: the plan's out-of-pocket max. It can go as high as $12,000 for one person in 2027.

Step 4: Check your doctors and drugs. Then check again.

Cheap plan + your doctor isn't in network = not actually cheap.

Search every doctor, specialist and hospital you care about in the plan's network.
Run your prescriptions through the plan's drug list (the "formulary") and see which tier each one lands in.
Do this every year, even if you keep the same plan. Networks and drug lists change.

Step 5: Know your network types (Florida edition)

HMO: Usually the lowest cost. You stay in network (except emergencies) and may need referrals.
EPO: Often no referrals, but you still have to stay in network except in emergencies. EPOs don't cover out-of-network care.
PPO: Lets you go out of network for a higher cost.

Heads up: every 2027 individual-market plan on Florida's state list is an HMO or EPO. If someone pitches you an individual "PPO" in Florida, ask a lot of questions.

Step 6: Use an HSA if it fits

Every bronze plan now works with a Health Savings Account (HSA), a savings account for medical costs that comes with tax breaks.

See Are all bronze plans HSA-eligible in 2027? below.

Step 7: Get help comparing

You don't have to do the spreadsheet yourself. A broker can compare plans side by side, check your doctors and drugs, and get you enrolled before the deadlines, at no cost to you to talk to us.

Are All Bronze Plans HSA-Eligible in 2027?

Yes. Since January 1, 2026, federal law treats every bronze and catastrophic plan sold to individuals and families as an HSA-eligible high-deductible plan, and that continues in 2027. It applies on HealthCare.gov and to the same plan types bought directly from an insurer. For 2027 you can contribute up to $4,500 for self-only coverage or $9,000 for family coverage.

A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a savings account for medical costs, with tax breaks on the way in and on the way out when you spend it on qualified care. So a bronze plan isn't only the low-premium plan anymore.

If you're comparing bronze plans during 2027 Open Enrollment, that gives you more options than you might think.

What changed in 2026, and what stays the same in 2027

Before 2026, a bronze plan only worked with an HSA if it met the IRS rules for a high-deductible health plan. Many didn't. Their out-of-pocket limits ran too high, or they paid for some care before the deductible.

A 2025 federal law changed that. Starting January 1, 2026, every bronze and catastrophic plan sold to individuals and families counts, and the rule carries into 2027. The same plan bought directly from an insurer, off the Marketplace, counts too. The IRS lays it out in Notice 2026-05.

One limit: the rule covers individual and family plans. A bronze plan offered through an employer's small-group coverage doesn't automatically qualify.

2027 HSA numbers at a glance

	Self-only	Family
2027 HSA contribution limit	$4,500	$9,000
Extra if 55 or older	+$1,000	+$1,000 (per eligible spouse, in their own HSA)
2026 limit, for comparison	$4,400	$8,750

You can put in less than the limit. You can make 2027 contributions up to your April 2028 tax filing deadline.

Bronze vs. catastrophic for an HSA

Both work with an HSA. The difference is who can buy them and whether help with the premium comes with them.

Bronze: Anyone shopping the Marketplace can pick one, and it can come with a premium tax credit if you qualify. Here's how premium tax credits work.
Catastrophic: No premium tax credit. For 2027 it's open to people under 30, or people 30 and older with a hardship or affordability exemption. A federal court order in July 2026 blocked a wider expansion, so as of October 2026 that limit stands.

On HealthCare.gov, the "Eligible for an HSA" filter on your plan results shows the plans that work with one.

Can an HSA affect my subsidy?

This part is general information, not tax advice.

In general, HSA contributions are deducted from your income even if you don't itemize, so they lower your adjusted gross income (AGI). The income figure the Marketplace uses for subsidies, modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), starts from your AGI.

That can matter if you're close to the 400% line. For 2027 coverage, that's $63,840 for one person or $132,000 for a family of four.

Every case is different. Talk to your tax professional about your situation.

For tax help, our tax partner Empire 360 offers individual and self-employment tax preparation.

Direct primary care memberships and HSAs

Direct primary care is a flat monthly fee paid to a primary care practice for your everyday care. Starting in 2026, you can have one of these memberships and still contribute to an HSA, as long as the fees stay at or under $150 a month in 2027 ($300 if the membership covers more than one person), and you can pay those fees from your HSA tax-free.

What an HSA can't do, and what isn't automatic

Premiums: HSA money generally can't pay your monthly premiums.
Who can contribute: You have HSA-eligible coverage on the first day of the month, no other coverage that disqualifies you, and no one can claim you as a dependent.
Private plans: Private or association plans outside the Marketplace aren't automatically HSA-eligible. It depends on the plan, so ask us.

Small business owner? Here's how HSAs work for small business owners.

Prefer Spanish? Alex Guerrero on our team speaks Spanish.

Not sure if a bronze plan plus an HSA fits your budget? Fill out the quote form, we compare your options, we apply together. There's no cost to talk to Creative Health Solutions and no broker fees. Call (321) 872-4940. We meet by phone or Zoom video.

Get my free quote

Your plan auto-renewed. Now what?

If you don't pick a plan by Dec 15, HealthCare.gov may automatically re-enroll you, sometimes in a similar plan if yours is going away. That keeps you covered, but it isn't the same as getting a good deal. Here's what to do:

Log in and update your application: income, household and address. Otherwise your tax credit could be wrong in either direction.
Check what you got renewed into. Look at the premium, deductible, out-of-pocket max, network and drug list. If your insurer is leaving (hi, Cigna), you may have been moved to a different company.
Shop anyway. You can still switch until Jan 15. Switch by Dec 15 for a Jan 1 start. After that, the new plan starts Feb 1.
Know when you can't auto-renew. Sometimes the Marketplace can't re-enroll you. If you get a notice saying so, choose a plan before the deadline or you could go without coverage.

FAQ

When is Open Enrollment for 2027?

Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov (that includes Florida). Enroll by Dec 15 for coverage starting Jan 1.

Are the extra ACA subsidies coming back?

As of mid-October 2026, Congress hasn't renewed them. We'll update this post if that changes.

I make a little over $63,840. Do I get anything?

Under the 2027 rules, a single person above 400% of the poverty level generally doesn't qualify for a premium tax credit. You can still buy a Marketplace plan at full price, and it's worth comparing options with us.

Is Silver always the right pick?

No. Silver is the only tier with cost-sharing reductions, so it's worth a close look if your income qualifies for them. Otherwise, compare Bronze and Gold too, based on how much care you use.

What if I miss Jan 15?

You'll generally have to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, usually from a life event like losing other coverage, moving or having a baby. Keep your paperwork handy. As of October 2026, HealthCare.gov can still ask you to prove some events, like losing other coverage. The old monthly sign-up option for very low incomes (under 150% of poverty) is gone after 2026.

Can you guarantee me a certain price?

Nope, and you should be wary of anyone who does. Prices depend on your age, ZIP code, income, household and the plan you pick. What we can do is show you your real options, in plain English.

Are all bronze plans HSA-eligible in 2027?

Can I get an ACA subsidy and an HSA at the same time?

Yes, with a bronze plan. Bronze plans can come with a premium tax credit if you qualify, and they're HSA-eligible. Catastrophic plans are also HSA-eligible but don't get premium tax credits. In 2027 they're limited to people under 30 or those with a hardship or affordability exemption. HSA money generally can't pay your premiums.

Do HSA contributions lower my income for ACA subsidies?

In general, HSA contributions are deducted from your income even if you don't itemize, and the Marketplace's income figure starts from your adjusted gross income. That's why they can matter if you're close to a subsidy limit. Every situation is different, so talk to your tax professional before counting on it.

Let's make this less painful

Choosing a plan isn't only about the lowest premium. It's about coverage that fits your life, your doctors and your budget. We'll walk you through it with no pressure and no jargon.