# Small business health insurance in Florida

Source: https://www.getprescience.com/small-business-health-insurance/florida
Author: Aditya Jain, MD, Cofounder and COO, Prescience
Published: 2026-10-08
Updated: 2026-10-08

Florida has a fast-growing startup scene in Miami, Tampa and Orlando, and one of the largest individual markets in the country. For employers, the rules are straightforward: small group covers 1 to 50 employees, there's no state individual mandate, and employers under 20 owe state continuation coverage. The decisions that matter are about cost and network.

- **Small group size:** 1–50 employees
- **State continuation:** Under 20 employees, 18 months
- **Continuation premium cap:** 115% of group rate
- **Individual mandate:** None

## The rules that matter in Florida

**Florida rules for employer health coverage**

| Rule | What it means |
| --- | --- |
| Small group definition | Employers with 1–50 employees buy in the small group market. |
| Florida mini-COBRA | Under the Florida Health Insurance Coverage Continuation Act, employers with fewer than 20 employees must offer continuation for at least 18 months. The premium can be up to 115% of the group rate. |
| Individual mandate | None. |
| Federal rules | COBRA at 20+ employees; the ACA employer mandate at 50+ full-time equivalents. |

## What it means for your company

Florida has one of the biggest ACA marketplaces in the country, so ICHRA pitches are everywhere. Before you go that route, look at what your employees would buy: about 79% of 2026 marketplace plans nationally are HMOs or EPOs, and the average marketplace deductible rose to $3,786. A group plan with a broad PPO network usually serves a team better.

## How a Prescience plan works in Florida

At Prescience, we design and run your company's health plan, from setup and enrollment to claims, compliance and COBRA. What your team gets:

- **An effective $0 deductible,** so the plan helps from the first visit.
- **Simple copays** shown before a visit, capped by a low out-of-pocket maximum.
- **A broad national PPO network,** plus providers we contract with directly.
- **24/7 physician-led care navigation:** a care team that finds the right provider, books appointments and explains costs up front.

What your company gets: one monthly cost set in your quote, usually 10–20% below comparable fully insured coverage and fixed before the plan starts, with no admin fees. You keep your payroll provider, and the plan can start mid-year.

We work with Florida employers of 2 or more employees, and with distributed teams that have employees in Florida and other states.

## Frequently asked questions

**How many employees do I need for group health insurance in Florida?**

Usually 2, including at least one employee who isn't an owner or an owner's spouse. Prescience works with Florida groups of 2 or more employees.

**Can Prescience cover employees outside Florida?**

Yes. Prescience covers teams across all 50 states, and the carrier network is national.

**Does Florida have mini-COBRA?**

Yes. Employers with fewer than 20 employees must offer continuation coverage for at least 18 months, at up to 115% of the group premium.

**Do Florida employers have to offer health insurance?**

Not under state law. The federal employer mandate applies at 50 or more full-time equivalents.

## Sources

- [Florida Statutes § 627.6692, Florida Health Insurance Coverage Continuation Act](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699%2F0627%2FSections%2F0627.6692.html)
- [Healthinsurance.org, HMO, PPO, EPO or POS (2026 marketplace plan types, from HHS QHP landscape data)](https://www.healthinsurance.org/blog/hmo-ppo-epo-or-pos-choosing-a-managed-care-option/)
- [KFF, The average marketplace deductible grew by about $1,000 per person in 2026](https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/the-average-marketplace-deductible-grew-by-about-1000-per-person-in-2026-with-more-enrollees-shifting-to-higher-deductible-plans-as-enhanced-tax-credits-expired/)
- [U.S. Department of Labor, COBRA continuation coverage](https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/health-plans/cobra)