Covering a family takes more steps than covering one person. Parents, kids, and young adults may each fit a different kind of coverage. If you live in Central Florida, you can get help comparing family plans in Orlando.
Marketplace plans are real health insurance from private insurance companies. Florida uses HealthCare.gov. As of October 2, 2026, open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026, to January 15, 2027. Pick a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1. Our Florida open enrollment guide lists every date.
Here are five common mistakes families make, and what to do instead.
Mistake 1: Comparing only the monthly price
The premium is the bill you pay each month. But HealthCare.gov says to compare each plan's total yearly cost, not just the premium. That total includes the premium for 12 months, plus the deductible, copays, and coinsurance you pay when you get care. Those costs can add up to more than the premium.
Family plans often have two deductibles. An individual deductible applies to each person. A family deductible applies to everyone together. The out-of-pocket maximum is the most you pay for covered, in-network care in a year. For 2027, a Marketplace plan's limit can be no more than $12,000 for one person or $24,000 for a family. Premiums don't count toward it.
What to do instead: For each plan, write down the premium, both deductibles, and the out-of-pocket maximum. Think about how much care your household may use. For a rough first look at pricing, try our Policy Pricing Calculator. If you are weighing metal levels, our guide to bronze vs. silver plans in Florida can help.
Mistake 2: Not checking each person's doctors, hospitals, and medicines
A plan can look great until you learn your child's doctor isn't in it. Plan type matters here. An HMO or EPO usually covers only in-network care, except in an emergency. A PPO lets you see providers outside the network for an extra cost. A POS plan needs a referral to see a specialist.
Every Marketplace plan has a provider directory and a list of covered drugs. When you compare plans on HealthCare.gov, you can add your doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions. It then shows whether each plan covers them in network.
What to do instead: Make a list for each person. Write down their doctors, any specialists, the hospital you would want to use, and every prescription. Check that list against each plan before you choose. Check it again when it's time to renew.
Mistake 3: Assuming the kids can't get help
Kids may qualify for Medicaid or CHIP even when their parents don't. Each state sets its own rules. As of October 1, 2026, KFF lists Florida as one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid for adults.
In Florida, CHIP is part of Florida KidCare. It is for kids under 19 and has four programs. You apply at floridakidcare.org. The program decides who qualifies and which program fits each child. You can also check Florida Medicaid with the state's official screener.
Families can mix coverage. If your kids qualify for CHIP, they can't get savings on a Marketplace plan. But you and other family members may still qualify. You can apply for Medicaid or CHIP any time of year.
What to do instead: Check the kids first, before you pay for one plan for everyone. And remember dental. For kids 18 and under, dental coverage must be offered with Marketplace coverage, but you don't have to buy it.
Mistake 4: Assuming a job's family offer blocks tax credits
Many families think, "My spouse can get insurance at work, so we can't get help." That may not be true. As of October 1, 2026, IRS rules test family members on their own. For the worker, the test uses the cost of worker-only coverage. For the spouse and kids, it uses the cost of family coverage.
If the worker's share of the family premium is more than a set share of household income, the spouse and kids may qualify for a Marketplace tax credit. That share is 9.96% for 2026 plan years and 10.22% for plan years starting in 2027. A job offer only blocks the credit if it is affordable and meets a basic standard called "minimum value." The old rule was known as the "family glitch." The fix started in 2023.
What to do instead: Ask the employer what the job plan costs for the worker alone and for the whole family. Put both numbers on your Marketplace application. Keep in mind that two plans can mean two deductibles and two out-of-pocket limits.
Mistake 5: Missing deadlines after a life change
Outside open enrollment, you need a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in or change a Marketplace plan. Some life changes give you one:
- A new baby, adoption, or foster care placement. You have 60 days. Coverage can start on the day of the event.
- Getting married. You also have 60 days. At least one of you must have had qualifying health coverage for at least 1 day in the 60 days before the wedding. There are a few exceptions, like if you lived outside the U.S. Pick a plan by the last day of a month, and coverage starts the first day of the next month.
- Losing coverage. When a young adult ages off a parent's plan at 26, that loss of coverage can qualify.
Young adults can usually stay on a parent's plan until 26. On a Marketplace plan, they can stay through December 31 of the year they turn 26. A job-based plan may end coverage when your child turns 26, so check with the plan.
Once you're enrolled, report income and household changes as soon as you can. If your income goes up and you don't report it, you may have to pay back part of your tax credit at tax time. Under current law, starting with 2026 taxes, there is no cap on that payback.
What to do instead: Mark the 60-day window on your calendar the day a life change happens. Note the year each child turns 26. Update your application right away when income or household size changes.
Quick family coverage checklist
- List everyone who needs coverage, with their ages.
- Compare each plan's premium, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximum.
- Check each person's doctors, hospital, and medicines.
- See if the kids may qualify for Florida KidCare or Medicaid, and decide on kids' dental.
- Get the cost of any job plan, for the worker alone and for the family.
- Mark open enrollment dates and any 60-day life-change window.
- Report income and household changes right away.