ObamaCare for Self-Employed Workers in Florida: 2027 Guide
Updated October 13, 2026 · By the Arte Insurance team · 6-minute read
If you work for yourself, whether you run your own business, do 1099 contract work or earn from gigs and apps (rides, deliveries, construction, cleaning or beauty services), you don’t get health insurance through a job. ObamaCare (the Health Insurance Marketplace) is usually how you get a plan with help paying for it. Here’s how it works for 2027 coverage in Florida.
1. You buy an individual plan, like everyone else
If your business has no employees, the Marketplace treats you as self-employed, and you buy an individual or family plan. The small-business marketplace (SHOP) is only for businesses with at least one employee who isn’t the owner, the owner’s spouse or a family member. Hiring independent contractors doesn’t make you an employer.
2. Your savings depend on your net income for 2027
Premium tax credits are based on the income your household expects to earn in 2027, the year of coverage, not last year’s income. For self-employed people, that means your net income: what your business takes in minus your business expenses, the amount you report on Schedule C.
For 2027, you can get a premium tax credit if your household income is between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level:
| People in your household | Income range for 2027 savings |
|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 – $63,840 |
| 2 | $21,640 – $86,560 |
| 3 | $27,320 – $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 – $132,000 |
If your estimate is below 100% of the poverty level ($15,960 for one person), you generally won’t get savings, and Florida hasn’t expanded Medicaid for most adults. Children and pregnant women may still qualify for Medicaid or Florida KidCare. Your estimate must be your honest best guess, so don’t push it up or down to qualify.
3. How to estimate income that changes month to month
Start with your most recent tax return, then adjust it for what you expect in 2027:
- Add up what your business took in over the last 12 months and subtract your business expenses.
- Think about changes: new clients or contracts, work you lost, slow months, new prices.
- Include the income of your spouse and anyone else in your tax household who has to file taxes.
For the Marketplace, your income is your adjusted gross income plus any untaxed foreign income, non-taxable Social Security benefits and tax-exempt interest.
Why getting it right matters more now: if you get more tax credit in advance than you qualify for, you pay back the difference when you file your taxes. Starting with the 2026 tax year, there’s no limit on how much you may have to repay. If your income ends up lower than you estimated, you may get the difference back as a refund.
If your income changes during the year, update your Marketplace application as soon as possible. Your monthly savings get adjusted, so you don’t end up owing a large amount at tax time.
Tip: you can choose to use only part of your tax credit each month and get the rest as a refund when you file. That’s a cushion if your income varies a lot.
4. Keep the records the Marketplace accepts
If the Marketplace can’t confirm your income with its data sources, it asks you for documents, and you generally have 90 days to send them. For self-employment income, it accepts documents such as:
- Your latest federal tax return with Schedule C (or F) and Schedule SE
- A self-employment ledger: any accurate, detailed record of your income and expenses, with your name, your business name and your income (there’s no standard format)
- Bookkeeping records and receipts for your business expenses
- Your most recent quarterly or year-to-date profit-and-loss statement
A simple monthly sheet of what you earned and spent, kept up to date, makes this easy.
5. A tax break for your premiums
If you’re self-employed, you may be able to deduct the health insurance premiums you pay yourself, meaning the part the premium tax credit doesn’t cover. The deduction and the credit affect each other, and IRS Publication 974 explains how to figure both. Ask your tax preparer about your case.
6. What’s new for 2027
- No repayment limit: since the 2026 tax year, excess advance credit has to be paid back in full.
- Immigrant families: starting January 1, 2027, savings are limited to U.S. citizens, green card holders, Cuban or Haitian entrants and COFA migrants. See who qualifies.
- You approve your agent: if an agent helps you enroll online, you confirm with a one-time code or link that expires within 15 minutes. See the renewal guide.
- Dates: Open Enrollment runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Choose a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1.
We help self-employed families, in English or Spanish
We’ll help you estimate your 2027 net income, check your savings and compare plans that include your doctors and medicines. Request a free quote or call (305) 440-8070. You can also try our 2027 savings calculator and see what documents to have ready. Our help with Marketplace applications is free, and your premium is the same as if you enrolled on your own.
Arte Insurance is a private, licensed insurance agency (Florida license L116417). We are not HealthCare.gov or a 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 tax, legal or immigration advice. Talk to a tax professional about your situation.
Sources: HealthCare.gov: reporting self-employment income · HealthCare.gov: coverage options for the self-employed · HealthCare.gov: how to estimate your income · HealthCare.gov: documents to confirm income · HealthCare.gov: documents and deadlines · IRS: questions and answers on the premium tax credit · IRS Publication 974 · HHS 2026 poverty guidelines