If you are searching for an Aetna versus Florida Blue comparison for 2026, there is an important fact to know first: Aetna / CVS Health exited the individual ACA marketplace nationwide — including Florida — at the end of 2025, affecting roughly one million members across 17 states. The company cited continued underperformance and recorded a $448 million premium deficiency reserve on its exchange business. So for the 2026 plan year, you cannot buy an Aetna individual marketplace plan in Florida.
Aetna is still very much active in Florida for employer/group health insurance and Medicare Advantage, so the realistic 2026 comparison is usually an Aetna employer plan versus a Florida Blue individual marketplace plan — or, if your Aetna ACA plan ended, how Florida Blue stacks up as a replacement. Florida Blue is the only major 2026 marketplace carrier offering true PPO plans, and it sells in 60+ of Florida's 67 counties. This guide covers both.
Aetna left the individual marketplace for 2026. A licensed Florida agent can compare Florida Blue and the other 2026 carriers in your ZIP — and check your doctors — at no cost to you.
A licensed Florida agent will reach out shortly with your 2026 Florida Blue and marketplace options.
Aetna / CVS Health exited the individual ACA exchanges: At the end of 2025 CVS Health withdrew Aetna from the individual ACA marketplace in all 17 states where it operated, including Florida, ending coverage for about one million members. CVS leadership cited continued underperformance of the exchange book and booked a $448 million premium deficiency reserve. Aetna had also briefly left the exchanges in 2017–2018 before returning in 2021.
Aetna still sells employer and Medicare coverage in Florida: The exit applies only to individual/family ACA plans. Aetna remains a major Florida carrier for employer/group health insurance and Medicare Advantage, which is why many Floridians still hold an Aetna card — just through work or Medicare, not the marketplace.
Broadest provider network: As a Blue Cross Blue Shield company, Florida Blue contracts with the majority of hospitals and physicians in the state — AdventHealth, Baptist Health, HCA Florida, Orlando Health, Memorial Healthcare, Tampa General, and BayCare all participate in Florida Blue networks. No 2026 marketplace carrier comes close to its provider breadth.
PPO availability: Florida Blue is the only major Florida ACA carrier offering true PPO plans for 2026. PPOs add out-of-network coverage, no specialist referrals, and access to the national BlueCard network — a real advantage for snowbirds and frequent travelers.
Statewide reach and retail centers: Florida Blue operates in 60+ of Florida's 67 counties and runs Florida Blue Centers across the state where members get face-to-face help with enrollment and claims. In many rural counties it is the only carrier on the exchange.
For most people the real 2026 decision is whether to keep an Aetna plan offered through an employer or buy a Florida Blue plan on the marketplace. The pivot point is the subsidy: if your employer's Aetna coverage is deemed affordable under ACA rules, you generally cannot get a marketplace subsidy, which usually makes the employer plan cheaper. If you lack affordable employer coverage, a subsidized Florida Blue marketplace plan may win on cost.
Florida Blue's network is among the broadest of any carrier in any state. Nearly every major Florida health system participates, so enrollees rarely face access problems — the trade-off is that its 2026 approved rate increase of 29.6% (29% for the Health Options HMO line) keeps premiums above the lowest-cost value carriers.
Aetna no longer publishes individual marketplace premiums in Florida, so the figures below show approximate 2026 unsubsidized Silver premiums for Florida Blue. Most enrollees pay far less after subsidies.
| County (35-yr-old, non-smoker, Silver) | Florida Blue |
|---|---|
| Miami-Dade County | ~$545/mo (HMO) / ~$615/mo (PPO) |
| Orange (Orlando) County | ~$510/mo (HMO) / ~$580/mo (PPO) |
| Hillsborough (Tampa) County | ~$500/mo (HMO) / ~$565/mo (PPO) |
Approximate 2026 unsubsidized premiums for a 35-year-old non-smoker, before APTC subsidies. As a reference point, Florida regulators reported a 28-year-old in Duval County on a Silver plan going from about $149 to roughly $281 per month for 2026 after subsidy changes. Your actual cost depends on the benchmark Silver plan in your rating area.
Is Aetna available on the Florida ACA marketplace for 2026?
No. Aetna / CVS Health exited the individual ACA exchange business nationwide for 2026, affecting roughly one million members across 17 states including Florida. Aetna individual/family marketplace plans ended after December 31, 2025. Aetna still sells employer/group coverage and Medicare Advantage in Florida, but you cannot buy an Aetna individual marketplace plan for 2026.
I have Aetna through my employer — should I switch to a Florida Blue marketplace plan?
It depends on cost and eligibility. If your employer's Aetna plan is considered affordable under ACA rules, you generally will not qualify for a marketplace subsidy, which usually makes the employer plan the better deal. If you do not have access to affordable employer coverage, a Florida Blue marketplace plan with a subsidy may cost less. Compare your share of the Aetna employer premium against the subsidized Florida Blue premium for your ZIP code.
Does Florida Blue offer PPO plans in 2026?
Yes. Florida Blue is the only major Florida ACA marketplace carrier offering true PPO plans for 2026. A PPO covers out-of-network care at higher cost sharing, requires no specialist referrals, and includes the national BlueCard network. Most other Florida marketplace carriers offer HMO or EPO plans only, which cover out-of-network care for emergencies only.
My Aetna ACA plan ended — is Florida Blue a good replacement in Florida?
It can be, if Florida Blue is sold in your county and your doctors are in its network. Florida Blue is the most widely available marketplace carrier in the state, selling in 60+ of Florida's 67 counties for 2026, including rural areas where it is often the only option. It offers both HMO (through its Health Options subsidiary) and PPO plans. Losing your Aetna plan because the carrier left the market is a qualifying life event, so you may have a Special Enrollment Period to pick a 2026 plan. Compare Florida Blue against the other carriers in your county on network and net premium before enrolling.
A licensed Florida health insurance agent can compare your 2026 options county by county and check whether your providers are in-network — at no cost to you.
Compare Plans in Your CountyRelated reading: Florida ACA Guide Hub | Oscar vs. Florida Blue | 2026 Open Enrollment Guide | SunState Coverage