ObamaCare and health insurance help in Tampa Bay

Open Enrollment 2027 for Tampa Bay residents

Tampa Bay at a glance

Hillsborough County, home to Tampa, had 1,574,115 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, and Pinellas County, home to St. Petersburg and Clearwater, had 948,563. The Census Bureau also reports that:

• 32.1% of Hillsborough residents and 12.1% of Pinellas residents are Hispanic or Latino;
• 19.7% in Hillsborough and 12.4% in Pinellas are foreign-born, and 30.7% and 15.9% speak a language other than English at home (2020–2024);
• the median household income is $79,540 in Hillsborough and $72,646 in Pinellas (2020–2024, in 2024 dollars), with 2.56 and 2.20 people per household;
• 13.1% of Hillsborough residents and 12.2% of Pinellas residents under 65 have no health insurance;
• 28.7% of Pinellas residents are 65 or older, compared with 16.5% in Hillsborough.

Three questions Tampa Bay families ask about 2027

• Should we look at the county health plan instead? Hillsborough County runs its own Health Care Plan for residents who aren't eligible for any other coverage, including Medicare and Medicaid. Its rules include income at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines ($27,930 a year for one person, $57,750 for four), assets within its limits, and U.S. citizenship or documented legal residence. It isn't a Marketplace plan, and the county decides who qualifies: (813) 272-5040. In Pinellas, the Pinellas County Health Program serves uninsured adults 18 to 64 who meet its rules, but it doesn't cover emergency room care or hospital stays: (727) 464-4200. If you're over those limits, or want a Marketplace plan, we can compare your 2027 options with you.
• Are we above the 400% line? The median household income in both counties ($79,540 in Hillsborough, $72,646 in Pinellas) falls between the 2027 cutoffs for one and two people, so household size matters. A single adult earning $75,000 would be above the $63,840 limit and pay full price, while a couple earning the same would be under $86,560 and could qualify if they meet the other rules. Your household usually means you, your spouse and your tax dependents. Estimate carefully: there's no cap on paying back extra credit. Try the 2027 calculator.
• Does our immigration status matter? About one in five Hillsborough residents is foreign-born. From January 1, 2027, tax credits will be limited to U.S. citizens and nationals, green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants and COFA migrants. Cuban or Haitian nationals who were paroled in or have an asylum case pending generally count as entrants if they have no final removal order. Other parole generally doesn't count, so those families can still buy a plan, usually at full price. See who qualifies.

Health care and help close to home

We're not affiliated with these services.

• Emergency care around the clock. Tampa General Hospital (1 Tampa General Circle, Tampa) runs the region's Level I trauma center, which cares for critically ill and injured adults and children 24 hours a day. In St. Petersburg, Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital (701 6th St S) has an emergency room open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Before you choose a plan, check that the hospital you prefer is in its network: HMO and EPO plans only cover in-network care, except emergencies.
• Computers and Wi-Fi. At the John F. Germany Public Library (900 N Ashley Dr, Tampa) and other Hillsborough libraries, you log on to the computers with your library card number, and full-service locations have Wi-Fi. The Clearwater Main Library (100 N Osceola Ave) has computers you can use with a library card or a computer-use card (bring a photo ID), plus Wi-Fi.
• Application help. HealthCare.gov's Find Local Help tool lists community groups that help with Marketplace applications.

Four ways to get started

• Call (786) 808-1802 and talk to us in Spanish or English.
• Book a call for the whole family at a time that suits you.
• Request a quote online in about two minutes; a licensed agent gets back to you.
• Enroll online yourself through our HealthSherpa link (a private enrollment website that works with HealthCare.gov).

We ask for your documented consent before helping with a Marketplace application, as federal rules require, and you review it before it's submitted. We also help Tampa Bay families with auto, homeowners, condo and renters and life insurance.

Questions from Tampa Bay families

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Hillsborough County and Pinellas County
• Hillsborough County: Health Care Plan and Pinellas County Health Program
• Tampa General Hospital: emergency and trauma care and Orlando Health: Bayfront Hospital emergency room
• Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative: John F. Germany Public Library and technology
• Clearwater Public Library System: hours and locations and frequently asked questions
• HealthCare.gov: find local help, dates and deadlines for 2027 and immigration status
• HealthCare.gov: changing from the Marketplace to Medicare
• Federal Register: 2026 HHS poverty guidelines

This page is general information, not tax, legal or immigration advice. For questions about your immigration case, talk to an immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative. Rules can change; we confirm current details with you before you enroll.

Arte Insurance Corp is a licensed private Florida agency, not a government agency.