Florida Health Insurance Premiums Are Rising in 2026 — Let’s Talk Real Alternatives

Health insurance premiums in Florida are skyrocketing — learn how Brian, Gina, and others are finding smarter ways to manage their care and costs through direct primary care. Florida health insurance 2026 alternative

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Worry Get's Personal As Health Insurance Rates Soar

Every week lately I hear another story that makes my stomach drop.

Brian, a small business owner in Riverview, told me his health insurance premium is jumping from $150 to over $650 a month next year — and that’s before the cost of his medications (which includes insulin) and doesn't include coverage for his wife.

Then there’s Gina, a local mom here in Valrico who shared that her 18-year-old daughter’s coverage will soon cost $510 a month, despite her being healthy and fresh out of high school. It's a price she can't afford now that her 16 year old son is on their car insurance (which also went up).

People across the nation are "bracing for a future without [health insurance] coverage, expecting to cancel appointments, forgo screenings, skip medications, and cross their fingers that disaster doesn't strike" according to this news story titled skyrocketing ACA premiums force enrollees to make tough decisions.

They’re not alone. In coffee shops, small business networks, and even my own patient visits, I keep hearing the same question:

“How are regular people supposed to afford health insurance anymore?”

The Reality: Premiums Are Set To Rise — Fast.

According to data from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and Kaiser Family Foundation, health insurance premiums in Florida are expected to increase an average of 30–35% in 2026, with some plans rising by more than 60%.

That means many families in Hillsborough County could see their premiums double. Here's a visual comparison for premium prices in 2025 compared to what's expected in 2026:

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Why? The short version:

• End to enhanced premium tax credits, the financial help that kept Marketplace plans more affordable, which are set to expire at the end of 2025.

• Rising healthcare costs, including staffing, cost to hire on new employees, hospital overhead, and prescription drugs are climbing.

• Florida has more residents enrolled in ACA Marketplace plans than any other state, so the impact here will be especially painful.

Even those with employer-based insurance may see ripple effects as companies adjust benefit costs or shift more expenses to their employees.

“So what are we supposed to do?”

That’s the question I’ve been hearing over and over.

And it’s a fair one.

For a lot of people, “shopping around” for new coverage still means staring down the same sky-high prices, higher deductibles, and less access to care. In other words, greater out of pocket expenses with less insurance coverage.

The truth is, traditional insurance isn’t the only way to access reliable, quality healthcare. And for many families and small business owners in Florida, direct primary care (DPC) has become a smart, affordable alternative.

Direct Primary Care: Healthcare, Without The Red Tape

If you haven’t heard of Direct Primary Care (DPC) before, you can read more in this blog post, but here’s the quick version:

Instead of paying per visit or fighting through insurance claims, patients pay a flat monthly membership — often less than what most people spend on a single urgent care trip.

At Papaya Primary Care, membership includes perks that make wellness easy: 

✅ Unlimited visits (in person or virtual) with same- or next-day openings 

✅ Free generic prescriptions by mail, annual bloodwork, and more 

✅ Text your provider anytime and get thoughtful guidance when you need it most 

✅ Transparent, upfront pricing with no surprise bills. Predictable costs that you can plan for!

DPC isn’t insurance — and that’s actually the point. It cuts out the middlemen and the billing games that drive costs up in the first place. You get a direct relationship with your provider, not transactional care.

Can you still have insurance and use DPC?

Absolutely. Many members at Papaya keep a catastrophic or high-deductible insurance plan to covers the big stuff (like surgeries, hospital stays, or emergencies) while using their DPC membership for everyday care, chronic condition management, and preventive health.

And starting January 2026, there’s even more good news:

You’ll be able to use your HSA (Health Savings Account) to pay for your DPC membership.

That’s a game-changer.

It means you can finally use pre-tax dollars for your DPC care, making this already affordable model even more accessible.

Quality Care ≠ Expensive Care

Let’s clear up one misconception right now:

Choosing direct primary care isn’t “settling” for less.

In fact, most patients find they get better access, more personalized care, and faster support than they ever had under traditional insurance.

Take Brian again — the small business owner whose premium was about to quadruple. After switching to a low-cost catastrophic plan and joining a DPC clinic, his total monthly healthcare spending dropped by nearly half. He’s saving money and has same-day access to care when he needs it.

Finding What Fits YOU

The goal isn’t to ditch insurance altogether — it’s to build a plan that actually fits your life and budget. That’s why I always recommend talking to an independent health insurance broker (somone who's not tied to one company or type of plan) who can explore options like:

• High-deductible or catastrophic plans for emergencies

• Short-term coverage if you’re between jobs

• Supplemental or wrap-around plans for hospital care

  
  

Pairing one or more of these options with a DPC membership gives you the best of both worlds: coverage for the big stuff, and affordable, personal primary care for the everyday.

A Sustainable Future For Healthcare Florida Health Insurance 2026 Alternative

As premiums rise, Floridians are being forced to rethink what healthcare really means, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Maybe this moment is the push we needed to look for smarter, more sustainable solutions that put relationships and access before paperwork.

If your insurance renewal notice has your blood pressure spiking, take a breath. There are options. And you don’t have to navigate them alone.

At Papaya Primary Care, we help adults ages 18-64 in Florida simplify their healthcare, cut through the noise, and feel confident in their care again.

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Ready to see if DPC is right for you? (Adults in Florida ages 18-64)

Schedule a no-obligation discovery call today and learn how we’re helping people in and around Hillsborough County take control of their care — without the uncertainty of traditional insurance.

Author's Note

This story was written by me, Katlyn Agosta, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, CDCES—nurse practitioner, certified diabetes care and education specialist, and proud Valrico local. I started Papaya Primary Care to make healthcare more personal, accessable, and prevention focused again. My specialty is diabetes care, education, and empowerment—from the lens of my own type 1 diabetes experiences.