ObamaCare Requirements in Florida for 2027: Who Qualifies and What You Need
Updated October 23, 2026 · By the Arte Insurance team · 6-minute read
To buy a 2027 ObamaCare (Marketplace) plan in Florida you need four things: live in Florida, be a U.S. citizen or national or be lawfully present, not be incarcerated, and not have Medicare. To get help paying for it, you also need a household income between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, no affordable job coverage, a tax return for the year, and, starting January 1, 2027, an immigration status that still qualifies for savings.
Updated: October 23, 2026 · Source: HealthCare.gov, who can use the Marketplace
People search for “ObamaCare requirements” and find lists written for other states or for past years. Florida has its own details: no Medicaid expansion for most adults, a Spanish-speaking majority in many counties, and a large share of families with mixed immigration status. Here is the 2027 list, in plain language.
1. Requirements to buy a plan
Anyone who meets these four can enroll through HealthCare.gov (CuidadoDeSalud.gov in Spanish), with or without financial help:
- You live in Florida. You apply in the state where you live; the plans you see depend on your county.
- You are a U.S. citizen or national, or you are lawfully present in the United States. Lawfully present includes, for example, green card holders, refugees, asylees, people with TPS, and many visa holders. People with DACA and undocumented immigrants can’t buy a Marketplace plan.
- You are not incarcerated (other than pending the disposition of charges).
- You don’t have Medicare. Once you are enrolled in Medicare, you generally can’t use the Marketplace, and any savings end when you qualify for Medicare Part A without a premium.
There is no health question, no medical exam and no exclusion for pre-existing conditions. Age only changes the price, not whether you can enroll.
2. Requirements to get help paying (premium tax credit)
Most Florida families who enroll get a premium tax credit that lowers the monthly bill. For 2027 you need all of these:
Household income between 100% and 400% of the poverty level. For 2027 coverage that means:
| People in your household | 100% (minimum) | 400% (maximum) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $132,000 |
Add $5,680 to the minimum and $22,720 to the maximum for each additional person. The full table, what counts as income and who counts in your household are in our 2027 income limits guide. In Florida, adults under 100% generally get no tax credit, because the state hasn’t expanded Medicaid; children and pregnant women may qualify for Medicaid or Florida KidCare instead.
No other qualifying coverage. If your job (or your spouse’s) offers a plan that is “affordable”, you generally can’t get a tax credit. For 2027, employee-only coverage counts as affordable if it costs no more than 10.22% of your household income. People eligible for Medicaid or Medicare also can’t get the credit.
You file a federal tax return for 2027, and married couples generally must file jointly. Your credit is checked against your real income when you file.
You estimate your 2027 income carefully. The credit is based on what you expect to earn next year, not on last year. If you earn more than you estimated, you may have to repay part of the credit at tax time. Self-employed or paid in cash? See how to estimate your income.
An immigration status that still qualifies in 2027. Explained next.
3. Immigration status: what changes on January 1, 2027
A 2025 federal law narrows who can get premium tax credits starting January 1, 2027. It does not change who can buy a plan.
- Still eligible for savings: U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), Cuban or Haitian entrants, and COFA migrants (citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau).
- Can buy a plan, but generally at full price from 2027: other lawfully present immigrants, for example people with TPS, refugees or asylees without a green card yet, and certain visa holders.
- Mixed-status families: each person is looked at separately. A U.S.-citizen child can get savings even if a parent can’t, and family members who aren’t applying aren’t asked about their status.
If the Marketplace can’t verify your status, you may be renewed for 2027 without savings. Details, examples and what to do at renewal are in who gets ObamaCare help in 2027 by immigration status. For questions about your own status, talk to an immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative; we don’t give immigration advice.
4. Documents to have ready
- Names and dates of birth for everyone in your household, and Social Security numbers for the people applying who have one.
- Immigration document numbers for applicants who aren’t U.S. citizens (green card, EAD, I-94, and so on).
- Your best estimate of 2027 income: recent pay stubs, last year’s tax return, or your records if you’re self-employed.
- Details of any coverage you or your family could get through a job.
- A list of your doctors and prescriptions, so the plan you pick covers them.
Our document checklist goes item by item. If HealthCare.gov later asks you to confirm something, you generally have 90 days for income and 95 days for immigration documents; see what to send and by when.
5. When you can apply
- Open Enrollment for 2027: November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 (as of October 2026; the January 15 date is under appeal). Pick a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1; enroll between December 16 and January 15 and coverage starts February 1.
- Outside those dates: you need a qualifying life event, such as losing other coverage, moving, getting married or having a baby. See Special Enrollment Periods in Florida. If you lost Medicaid on October 1, 2026, you generally have 90 days to enroll; see what to do after losing Medicaid in Florida.
- Coverage starts only after you pay your first premium. See why the first payment matters.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Social Security number to apply?
Everyone applying for coverage who has an SSN must provide it. Family members who aren’t applying for coverage don’t need to give one or share their immigration status.
Can I get ObamaCare if I’m 65 or older?
If you have Medicare, generally no. If you’re 65 and not eligible for Medicare (for example, because of your immigration history), you may be able to use the Marketplace. A licensed agent can check your case.
I earn less than the minimum. What are my options?
In Florida, adults below 100% of the poverty level usually can’t get a tax credit. Children and pregnant women may qualify for Medicaid or KidCare, and community health centers charge according to income. If your income goes up during the year, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Does using an agent change the requirements or the price?
No. The rules are the same, and the premium is the same whether you enroll on your own or with a licensed agent, because insurers pay agents. For 2027, you approve your agent yourself with a one-time code or link that expires within 15 minutes; see how agent approval works.
How much will I pay?
Run the 2027 ObamaCare calculator: with your household size and income it shows the most you’d be expected to pay for the benchmark Silver plan. The exact 2027 plans and prices appear on HealthCare.gov on November 1.
How Arte Insurance can help
We are a private, licensed Florida insurance agency (license L116417) in Hialeah, serving families across Florida in English and Spanish. We check the requirements with you, estimate your savings, compare plans with your doctors and medicines in mind, and help you enroll. Insurers pay licensed agents; your premium is the same as enrolling on your own.
Get a quote or call (786) 808-1802.
Arte Insurance is a private, licensed insurance agency (Florida license L116417). We are not HealthCare.gov or any government agency. You can also apply directly at HealthCare.gov or by calling 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325). This article is general information, not legal, immigration or tax advice. Every case is different: for yours, talk to a licensed agent.
Sources: HealthCare.gov: who can use the Marketplace · HealthCare.gov: immigration status and the Marketplace · HealthCare.gov: dates and deadlines · HHS: 2026 poverty guidelines · IRS: Rev. Proc. 2026-26, 2027 applicable percentages (PDF) · CMS: noncitizen eligibility for APTC and CSRs, plan year 2027 (PDF)