Ranked 10 of 15 states · median $789/mo · CMS PY2026
Licensed Independent Agent · NPN #22052447 · 21 States
A 40-year-old welder 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 highest out-of-pocket maximum, Florida ranks 3 of 15 for this occupation.
Injury exposure means the number that matters is the out-of-pocket maximum, not the premium. A single ER visit and follow-up can hit that ceiling in one month, so these pages rank states by worst-case annual exposure rather than by monthly cost.
Occupational context: Fume inhalation, arc eye, and burn risk; hearing loss.
This is background for choosing a plan, not for pricing one. Since 2014 every Florida exchange plan has been guaranteed issue and community rated: same age, same ZIP, same tobacco status means the same filed premium whether you are a welder or an accountant. Occupation changes the shopping criteria, nothing else.
Premium is set by rating area, so a welder 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian River | $554 | Ambetter Health | $8,000 | 7 |
| Madison | $612 | Ambetter Health | $8,000 | 5 |
| Duval | $639 | Ambetter Health | $8,000 | 6 |
| Hernando | $650 | Oscar Health Maintenance Organization of Florida | $5,000 | 4 |
| Pasco | $659 | Oscar Health Maintenance Organization of Florida | $5,000 | 8 |
| Palm Beach | $674 | Wellpoint | $3,500 | 11 |
The spread across just these six is $120/month — $1,440 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 — worst-case exposure | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Lowest annual out-of-pocket maximum | $0 |
| Highest annual out-of-pocket maximum | $0 |
| Cheapest Gold plan @40 | $545 — Health First Commercial Plans |
| Gold deductible | $2,200 |
| Cheapest Silver @40 | $554 — Ambetter Health |
| Cheapest Silver @50 | $775 |
For a welder, the gap between $0 and $0 in annual out-of-pocket maximum is worth more than any premium difference on this page. One serious injury reaches that ceiling regardless of which plan you picked.
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
This only matters if you can actually choose — you buy in the state where you live, not where you work. If you are a welder who moved this year, that move is a qualifying life event and opens a special enrollment period.
Expense categories that typically apply to this trade: Welding rig, consumables, PPE, truck, certification. Premiums are generally deductible above the line under IRC §162(l) when no employer plan is available to you or your spouse — a question for your CPA, not your agent.
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.
No. Under the ACA, carriers cannot rate, decline, or exclude based on occupation or health history. Rates vary only by age, ZIP code, tobacco use and household size.
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 Welders in Florida and a blog covering deductibles, subsidies and special enrollment.