COBRA Health Insurance Resources for Florida Residents
If you receive your group health benefits through your employer, you may have the option to continue the coverage after your employment ends through COBRA. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act was designed by Congress requiring group health plans to provide an eligible employee a temporary continuation of group health coverage they may otherwise lose due to loss of employment or other qualifying events.
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COBRA Insurance Florida: What You Should Know
COBRA in Florida is similar to COBRA in other states. However, Florida also provides continuation of healthcare coverage for those employees working for small businesses with less than 20 employees, under the Florida Health Insurance Coverage Continuation Act (FHICCA, or Mini-COBRA)
COBRA’s Role in Group Health Insurance
For employees, COBRA allows them to continue coverage for themselves, their spouses, former spouses, and dependent children should their group health coverage be lost due to specific events, like employment termination. Participants who choose COBRA often pay higher amounts than they typically would with traditional individual health plans. The primary reason is that the employee must pay the full price for the coverage.
Individuals Eligible for Continuation Coverage under Florida’s Mini-COBRA
For an individual to be eligible to elect Florida’s Mini-COBRA continuation coverage, a few things must happen or already be put in place:
- Federal COBRA must not cover your group health plan
- You are covered by the employer group health plan when employment terminated
- A qualifying event must occur
- You must be a qualified beneficiary of the event
- If you qualify for Medicare or another group health plan, you are not eligible for Florida Mini-COBRA
Plan Coverage
Federal COBRA covers employer-sponsored group health plans with 20 or more employees on 50 percent of typical business days in the prior calendar year. Both full and part-time employees are calculated to determine if a plan qualifies for COBRA.
Every part-time employee counts as a small part of the full-time employee, equivalent to the number of hours that the part-time employee worked then divided by the hours an employee must work to be considered full time. To become eligible for COBRA, you must have been enrolled in your employer’s health plan during employment and the policy must be in effect for current employees.
Signing Up for Florida Mini-COBRA
Unlike Federal COBRA insurance, Florida’s Mini coverage continuation is handled individually by your health insurance provider. Florida’s Mini-COBRA coverage is handled individually by your insurer. The beneficiary must notify the insurer within 30 days of the qualifying event or coverage loss (though the law allows for up to 63 days under some plan rules). This is a tight deadline and must be strictly followed. Each insurer may have different enrollment options and participation forms. If you need help with signing up, you may want to contact the insurer directly.
Once the insurer notifies you of your right to elect coverage, you must elect and pay the first premium within a relatively short period, often 30 days of receiving that notification.
Florida Mini-COBRA Insurance Cost
Just like Federal COBRA, Mini-COBRA is costly. The Florida Mini-COBRA law (FHICCA) permits the insurer to charge up to 115% of the total premium (100% plan cost plus a 15% administrative fee) for coverage, making it significantly more expensive than Federal COBRA (which is 102%). For 2026, many individual COBRA plans in Florida cost well over $800 per month.
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Benefits Covered Under COBRA
Once you choose continuation coverage under Federal COBRA or Florida Mini, you are given identical coverage offered under the plan to current employees and their families. You are subject to the same rules as before such as co-payment requirements and deductibles. You will be given the same benefits, choices, and services as active employee participants or other beneficiaries are getting under the plan. For example, you have the right to choose between available coverages during open enrollment season.
Reasons Your COBRA Continuation May Be Terminated
- The employer fails to keep a group health plan
- Premiums are not paid in full on a timely basis
- A qualified beneficiary becomes eligible for Medicare benefits after choosing continuation coverage
- A qualified beneficiary starts coverage under another employer group health plan before choosing continuation coverage – providing the new plan doesn’t force an exclusion or limitation concerning a preexisting condition of the qualified beneficiary
- A qualified beneficiary participates in fraudulent activities that justify the plan terminating coverage of a current participant or beneficiary
Benefits of Choosing COBRA Insurance in Florida
While COBRA may seem an expensive option, it is far better than going on uninsured. It is helpful for those with preexisting conditions that may hinder the prospect of an individual policy. If you find one, the rates may astronomical. Also, if you have a lapse in coverage plus a preexisting condition your rates may increase more than you ever thought they could.
Alternatives to COBRA Insurance in Florida
If you aren’t sure that COBRA is for you, there are other options.
- Short-term health insurance, which is widely available in Florida, is a cheaper solution if you are young and healthy. WARNING: These plans do not comply with the ACA and do not cover pre-existing conditions, mental health care, or prescription drugs like COBRA does. They also may be limited in total duration.
- A high-deductible health plan may have lower monthly premiums. The caveat is you will pay more before insurance kicks in. A health savings account may be used alongside your high deductible plan.
- Your state’s Marketplace (Healthcare.gov) is a viable option if you lost your job as you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). However, due to the scheduled expiration of the enhanced ACA subsidies in 2026, ACA plans in Florida are facing unprecedented cost hikes:
1. Gross Premiums are rising sharply: Florida average unsubsidized premiums are seeing increases of 30% to over 40%.
2. Net Premiums will more than double: For Floridians relying on subsidies, the net premium (what they actually pay) is projected to increase by an average of 132% if Congress does not act.
- A traditional health insurance plan if there are no preexisting conditions. If you have health concerns or need coverage for your entire family, it may be more expensive than other options. You may also find that some conditions are excluded.
After all the considerations are made, your Florida COBRA or Mini-COBRA insurance may be the best solution for your needs.
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