Health insurance St. Petersburg families buy on their own comes from the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.gov. For 2027 coverage, Open Enrollment runs Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027; enroll by Dec 15 for a Jan 1 start. Kids can often get Florida KidCare, and uninsured Pinellas adults can check the Pinellas County Health Program.
Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026). Reviewed by Adam Segall, Licensed Insurance Agent (FL Lic #P101968).
The basics of health insurance in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is in Pinellas County, and it shops on the same federally facilitated Marketplace as the rest of Florida at HealthCare.gov. There is no city or state exchange. Every Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan for individuals and families is compared and bought there, either on your own or with a licensed helper.
Plans are guaranteed issue, so no one can be turned down or charged more for a pre-existing condition. Most people who buy their own coverage qualify for a premium tax credit based on household size and expected income. If you work for yourself, wait tables downtown, or freelance from home, this is your shelf.
The calendar matters. Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Sign up by December 15, 2026 for coverage on January 1, 2027, or by January 15 for a February 1 start. CMS confirmed the January 15 end date for this season. Outside those dates you need a Special Enrollment Period. More detail is on our Open Enrollment 2027 page.
Covering the whole family in St. Petersburg
For many households, the smartest health insurance St. Petersburg setup is a split: parents on a subsidized Marketplace plan, kids on Florida KidCare. One application handles both. When you apply through the Marketplace, children are screened for KidCare automatically, and the right program is chosen for each person.
Florida KidCare covers children under 19 and combines Medicaid for children, MediKids, Florida Healthy Kids, and Children’s Medical Services. Eligibility reaches families earning up to about 300% of the federal poverty level, which is far above where adult help stops in Florida.
Parents, pregnant women, and people with disabilities may also qualify for Florida Medicaid at lower incomes. You can apply through ACCESS Florida. Because Florida did not expand Medicaid, most adults without children cannot get Medicaid at any income.
| Who in the household | Where they usually get coverage |
|---|---|
| Children under 19 | Florida KidCare (if eligible) or the family’s Marketplace plan |
| Parents, income 100%–400% FPL | Marketplace plan with a premium tax credit |
| Parents above 400% FPL | Marketplace plan at full price (no subsidy in 2027) |
| Adults below 100% FPL | Medicaid if eligible; otherwise local programs below |
| Anyone with affordable job coverage | Usually the employer plan (no Marketplace subsidy) |
For 2027, the 400% FPL subsidy cliff is back because the enhanced credits expired on December 31, 2025. For a family of four that line is $132,000. Below it, the benchmark silver plan costs a set share of income, from 2.15% to 10.22%. Our 2027 subsidies guide shows the full table.
Honesty.AI checks every family member’s options on one application, free.
Children’s care and hospital networks in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is home to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, a pediatric teaching hospital downtown that became part of Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011. If your child sees specialists there, the network question is the first one to answer, before premium or deductible.
Next door, Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital is St. Petersburg’s longest-standing hospital and describes itself as the only adult Level II trauma center in Pinellas County. BayCare also operates St. Anthony’s Hospital in the city.
Marketplace plans do not all include the same hospitals, and a plan that covers one system may leave out another. Look up each doctor, pediatric specialist, and hospital in the 2027 directory of the exact plan you are weighing, and call the office to confirm. Carriers and networks vary by county, and official 2027 Pinellas plan data was not yet out when we updated this page, so compare every option on HealthCare.gov or with Honesty.
Family tip: If a child has ongoing specialist care, compare plans by their out-of-pocket maximum, not just the deductible. For 2027 no ACA plan can exceed $12,000 per person or $24,000 per family for in-network covered care.
Uninsured adults in Pinellas County
Florida’s coverage gap hits single adults hardest. If you earn below 100% of the federal poverty level and do not qualify for Medicaid, you cannot get a Marketplace subsidy. When no health insurance St. Petersburg plan is within reach, Pinellas County has its own safety net.
The Pinellas County Health Program, run by Pinellas County Human Services with the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County, serves residents ages 18 to 64 who are uninsured, cannot pay for needed care, meet federal income guidelines, and are ineligible for Medicaid, Medicare, or other public programs. It covers doctor visits at a medical home, prescriptions, lab work, mental health care, and screenings. The county notes that emergency room treatment and hospitalization are not covered, so it is not a substitute for insurance.
The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County also offers primary care for uninsured adults and children, with a sliding fee scale for people who do not qualify for the county program. The department has locations in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, and Pinellas Park, per Pinellas County; call 727-824-6900 to confirm services.
Evara Health (Community Health Centers of Pinellas), a federally funded Health Center Program grantee, runs about 20 clinic locations and five pharmacies across the county, including St. Petersburg sites, according to its website.
Hurricane season and your health insurance in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg knows storms. In October 2024, Hurricane Milton led to a federal major disaster declaration (DR-4834) for Florida. A storm can disrupt your coverage in ways people do not expect, so a little preparation pays off.
- Save your plan ID card and member number as photos on your phone and in a cloud folder, along with your prescriptions list.
- If you relocate after a storm, update your Marketplace address. A permanent move can open a Special Enrollment Period.
- If a disaster stopped you from enrolling or making a change on time, HealthCare.gov recognizes being affected by a natural disaster as a qualifying circumstance.
- If you lose job-based coverage because your employer closes after a storm, you usually have 60 days to pick a Marketplace plan.
Five steps to enroll for 2027
- Estimate 2027 income. Your subsidy is based on what you expect to earn in 2027, reconciled on your 2027 tax return.
- List everyone’s doctors and medicines. Include pediatric specialists and the hospital you would use.
- Apply once for the household. The Marketplace checks subsidies, Medicaid, and KidCare together.
- Compare total cost, not just premium. Weigh deductible, copays, and the out-of-pocket maximum. See how to choose a health plan.
- Enroll and pay the first premium by your deadline so coverage starts on time.
Premiums are climbing for a second straight year. KFF reported a proposed median increase of about 15% for 2027, so even if you liked your plan, compare health insurance St. Petersburg options before letting it renew.
Health insurance St. Petersburg help: free and licensed
Federally funded Navigators give free enrollment help. The University of South Florida holds Florida’s CMS Navigator award, and its 2026–2027 award summary lists Pinellas as a virtual-service county, so expect phone or video appointments. Search by ZIP at localhelp.healthcare.gov for current options.
Honesty.AI is a licensed, unbiased, agnostic AI insurance agent that is on your side. It never earns more by steering you, and it works for you, not the carriers. It compares every Marketplace plan at your ZIP code, applies your subsidy, and checks the kids for KidCare, then enrolls you in minutes. It also shows ACA, alternative, and ancillary plans such as dental and vision side by side.
Help is available 24/7 by chat, voice, or text. Honesty® Insurance Services, LLC is licensed statewide in Florida (FL #L125256) and serves St. Petersburg families remotely. We never sell or share your data, and there are no spam calls.
Find your family’s 2027 St. Petersburg plan
Compare every ACA, alternative, and ancillary plan, check subsidies and KidCare, and enroll in minutes. Free, unbiased, and private. Honesty Is Your Best Policy®.
Frequently asked questions
How do St. Petersburg families get health insurance for kids?
Apply once through the Marketplace. Children under 19 are screened for Florida KidCare automatically, which covers kids in families earning up to about 300% of the federal poverty level. Parents can be on a subsidized Marketplace plan at the same time.
Does the Pinellas County Health Program count as health insurance?
No. It is a county program for uninsured residents ages 18 to 64 who meet income guidelines and cannot get Medicaid or Medicare. It covers primary care, prescriptions, and screenings, but the county says emergency room treatment and hospitalization are not covered.
Will my plan cover Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital?
It depends on the plan. Networks differ from plan to plan and can change each year. Check the 2027 provider directory for the exact plan and confirm with the hospital and your child’s specialists before enrolling.
Can a hurricane give me a Special Enrollment Period?
It can. HealthCare.gov lists being affected by a natural disaster as a qualifying circumstance, and a permanent move or losing job-based coverage after a storm can also qualify. You generally have 60 days to act.
Is there in-person enrollment help in Pinellas County?
The federal Navigator program run by the University of South Florida lists Pinellas as a virtual-service county for 2026–2027, so help is mainly by phone or video. Search localhelp.healthcare.gov by ZIP, or get licensed help from Honesty by chat, voice, or text.
Keep learning: read our statewide Florida health insurance guide and tips for affordable health insurance in Florida. Live nearby? See health insurance in Clearwater (also Pinellas County) and health insurance in Tampa across the bay, or learn how Honesty.AI works and how the health insurance Marketplace works.
