Losing Job-Based Coverage in Florida? Your ACA Marketplace Options

Losing Job-Based Coverage in Florida? Your ACA Marketplace Options

Losing employer health coverage, whether through a layoff, reduced hours, or a spouse’s job change, is stressful, but it also opens a window to enroll in an ACA Marketplace plan outside the usual Open Enrollment dates. The key is to act within the deadlines. Here is what Florida residents should know about their options in 2027.

Your Main Options After Losing Job-Based Coverage

According to HealthCare.gov, you generally have these paths:

The Special Enrollment Period Window

The HealthCare.gov Special Enrollment Period guidance says you may qualify if you or anyone in your household lost qualifying coverage in the past 60 days, or expects to lose it in the next 60 days. Losing job-based coverage includes employer coverage, COBRA, or a family member’s employer plan, including aging off a parent’s plan.

• Job-based coverage: 60 days before or after the loss.
• Medicaid or CHIP: You may qualify if you lost coverage in the past 90 days.
• Medicare: Losing only Part B or Part D does not qualify.

COBRA vs. Marketplace: What to Weigh

COBRA keeps your existing doctors and plan, which can matter in the middle of treatment. The tradeoff is cost, since you pay the full premium. A Marketplace plan may be less expensive if you qualify for savings. HealthCare.gov encourages you to compare Marketplace plans and prices with your COBRA coverage or offer before deciding.

Watch Out When Dropping COBRA

Per HealthCare.gov, you can switch from COBRA to a Marketplace plan outside Open Enrollment when your COBRA coverage is running out, when your former employer stops contributing, or when you are still within 60 days of losing your job-based coverage. The main cautions:

• Do not cancel early. If you voluntarily end COBRA, including by stopping premium payments, you generally have to wait until the next Open Enrollment, unless another qualifying event occurs.
• Check your start date first. Confirm when Marketplace coverage would begin before you end COBRA, so you avoid a gap.
• Wait for Medicaid or CHIP decisions. If you may qualify, wait for a final eligibility decision before ending COBRA.

If You Do Not Qualify for Savings

If your household income does not qualify for savings, HealthCare.gov notes you may be able to choose a Catastrophic plan and use a Health Savings Account to help with costs. Keep in mind that the enhanced subsidies that applied from 2021 through 2025 expired at the end of 2025, so the 400% of Federal Poverty Level cliff applies to the premium tax credit.

Practical Steps to Take This Week

1. Find your coverage end date and any COBRA election deadline in your notice.
2. Gather income and household information for the coverage year.
3. Apply through HealthCare.gov and compare plans against COBRA.
4. Submit any documents the Marketplace requests to confirm your loss of coverage.

Talk to a Licensed Agent

A licensed agent can help you compare COBRA with Marketplace plans and confirm your enrollment deadline at no extra cost to you. Start with HealthSherpa, or call (212) 804-6730 to speak with a licensed agent today.

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute insurance, legal, or financial advice. This site and its agents are not affiliated with or endorsed by the federal government, HealthCare.gov, or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Eligibility rules and deadlines are subject to change — always verify current details at HealthCare.gov or CMS.gov. This content is provided by a licensed agent affiliated with Flatbush Insurance Brokerage.