Ranked 10 of 15 states · median $789/mo · CMS PY2026
Licensed Independent Agent · NPN #22052447 · 21 States
A 40-year-old hair stylist in Florida pays a median $789/month for a Silver plan before subsidies — 10th of 15 on cost. The cheapest plan in the state is $554 from Ambetter Health in Indian River. On median Silver premium, Florida ranks 10 of 15 for this occupation.
When you use coverage regularly, the annual total is driven by what each visit costs and whether the clinician you already see is contracted. A plan $40 cheaper that drops your specialist is not cheaper. These rankings pair median premium with how many carriers actually file in the state.
Occupational context: Chemical exposure; prolonged standing; shoulder and wrist strain.
None of that changes your price. ACA plans in Florida are community rated — premium varies by age, ZIP code, tobacco use and household size only. Your occupation cannot be used to rate you, decline you, or exclude a condition. What it changes is which plan design is the right bet.
Premium is set by rating area, so a hair stylist in one Florida county can pay materially more than one an hour away. Six counties from across the state, cheapest Silver plan for a 40-year-old:
| County | Cheapest Silver @40 | Issuer | Deductible | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dixie | $759 | Ambetter Health | $8,000 | 3 |
| Washington | $843 | Ambetter Health | $8,000 | 3 |
| Jefferson | $585 | Ambetter Health | $8,000 | 5 |
| Holmes | $617 | Ambetter Health | $8,000 | 3 |
| Escambia | $641 | Ambetter Health | $8,000 | 5 |
| Saint Johns | $654 | Ambetter Health | $8,000 | 6 |
The spread across just these six is $258/month — $3,090 a year for the same metal tier. Statewide the range runs $554 to $2,203. Coverage by County publishes all 67 Florida counties individually.
| Florida — network and cost | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Median Silver premium @40 | $789 |
| Cheapest Silver @40 | $554 — Ambetter Health (Indian River) |
| Most expensive Silver @40 | $2,203 |
| Carriers filing in the state | 15 — 22 Health, Ambetter Health, AmeriHealth Caritas Next, AvMed |
| Plan types available | EPO, HMO, POS, PPO |
| Counties with only one carrier | 1 of 67 |
Florida has 15 carriers filing and 1 of 67 counties served by a single issuer. For a hair stylist with an established provider relationship, that carrier count is the number that decides whether you keep your doctor.
Source: CMS Plan Year 2026 Qualified Health Plan Landscape file. 7,569 plan records across 67 Florida counties. Full-price filed rates before premium tax credits — verify at enrollment.
Cheaper for the same coverage: South Dakota ($725), Oklahoma ($731), Kansas ($765). More expensive: Utah ($805), Texas ($807), North Carolina ($828).
Side-by-side: Florida vs Oklahoma · Florida vs Kansas · Florida vs Utah · Florida vs Texas
Cross-state numbers are useful for understanding whether Florida is treating you well, not for arbitrage. You cannot buy an out-of-state exchange plan. If you are a hair stylist weighing a relocation for other reasons, the premium difference is a real line item worth putting in the decision.
Self-employed Hair Stylists in Florida typically deduct: Chair rental, products, shears, licensing. Health premiums sit separately, above the line under IRC §162(l), and only when neither you nor a spouse could have joined an employer plan — eligibility disqualifies you even if you declined the coverage.
If your household income is above the subsidy range, ACA is not automatically the answer. There are other categories of coverage that may fit, and they work very differently. That is a conversation, not a web page.
The cheapest Silver plan for a 40-year-old in Florida is $554 per month from Ambetter Health, with a state median of $789. Both figures are full price before premium tax credits; most buyers pay less after subsidies.
It cannot happen on an exchange plan. Rating in Florida uses four inputs only: age, ZIP code, tobacco use and how many people are on the policy. Trade, injury history and pre-existing conditions are all excluded from pricing by law.
Yes. Plan types filed for 2026: EPO, HMO, POS, PPO.
Florida ranks 10 of 15 states covered here, at a median $789 per month. Indiana is cheapest at $558 and Nebraska is most expensive at $875.
This page compares states. For Florida specifically — county-by-county carriers, plan data and enrollment help — I publish that on Coverage by County, including a page written for Hair Stylists in Florida and a blog covering deductibles, subsidies and special enrollment.