Our Guides: Health Insurance Alternatives in Florida

Not insurance, and not one-size-fits-all

We help Florida individuals and families compare three alternatives to insurance: direct primary care for everyday care, health care sharing for big unexpected bills, and discount plans for dental and vision. Each one has a job and a limit. The guides below explain both, with prices dated so you know how current they are.

We don't sell or recommend insurance. When a Marketplace plan or Florida Medicaid is the better fit, the guides say so.

Health care sharing
Health care sharing ministries are not insurance and are not regulated as insurance. Sharing of medical expenses is voluntary and not guaranteed. Review each organization's guidelines for details, limitations, and state-specific notices.

Florida notice (§ 624.1265(3), Florida Statutes)
Florida law requires health care sharing organizations to give this notice with their applications and guidelines: “Notice: The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company, and neither its guidelines nor its plan of operation is an insurance policy. Membership is not offered through an insurance company, and the organization is not subject to the regulatory requirements or consumer protections of the Florida Insurance Code. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be totally voluntary because no other participant is compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. As such, participation in the organization or a subscription to any of its documents should never be considered to be insurance. Regardless of whether you receive any payments for medical expenses or whether this organization continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.” Health care sharing is not Minimum Essential Coverage.

Direct primary care
Direct primary care is a membership with a primary care practice. Under Florida's direct health care agreement law (§ 624.27, Florida Statutes), these agreements are not health insurance and are not subject to the Florida Insurance Code. A DPC membership does not pay for specialists, hospital care or emergencies, and it is not Minimum Essential Coverage.

Discount plans
THIS PLAN IS NOT INSURANCE and is not intended to replace health insurance. Florida disclosure (§ 636.212, Florida Statutes): The plan is not insurance. The plan provides discounts at certain health care providers for medical services. The plan does not make payments directly to the providers of medical services. The plan member is obligated to pay for all health care services but will receive a discount from those health care providers who have contracted with the discount plan organization. Discount plan organization: Careington International Corporation, 7400 Gaylord Parkway, Frisco, TX 75034. Discount plans are not ACA Qualified Health Plans.

How we're paid
We may receive compensation from some organizations we recommend. This does not change our evaluation of how they work. See our Referral Marketing Disclosure.

Not advice
This page is general information, not medical, legal, tax or financial advice. Prices are examples, not quotes; they depend on your household and can change. Affordable Healthcare Florida is not an insurance agency and does not sell insurance. We help individuals and families explore alternatives to insurance, including direct primary care, health care sharing and discount plans.

Alternatives to Health Insurance in Florida, Explained

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Not insurance, and not one-size-fits-all

Every Option Compared

Health Sharing in Florida

What It Costs

Direct Primary Care

Dental Savings Plans

Self-Employed

Gig & Hospitality Workers

Early Retirees

Short-Term vs Health Sharing

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