Cigna expanded its Florida presence for 2026 by adding a new Cigna HMO entity alongside its existing Cigna Health & Life plans, though it still sells only in select metro counties. Florida Blue is the only major 2026 marketplace carrier offering true PPO plans, and it sells in 60+ of Florida's 67 counties. Both compete on Florida's 2026 ACA marketplace, where 16 insurers now participate and the statewide weighted-average rate rose roughly 31.5% before subsidies — but the two carriers take very different approaches to networks, plan types, and price.
This comparison breaks down how Cigna and Florida Blue differ on county availability, provider networks, plan types, 2026 premiums, and member experience — and which type of Florida enrollee each one fits best.
Comparing ACA plans in Florida
National network for travelers: Cigna's national network is an advantage for Floridians who travel frequently or split the year between states, giving access to contracted providers well beyond Florida.
MDLIVE telehealth: Cigna includes MDLIVE virtual care for urgent, primary, and behavioral health visits, a convenient option for routine needs without an office trip.
Expanding Florida footprint: For 2026 Cigna added a new HMO entity in Florida alongside its Cigna Health & Life plans, broadening the metro counties where it competes, and its 29.5% approved increase is roughly in line with the statewide average.
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.
| Feature | Cigna | Florida Blue |
|---|---|---|
| Founded / status | National carrier; added a new Cigna HMO entity for 2026 | 1944 (80+ years in FL) |
| Plan types | EPO / HMO | HMO + PPO |
| Florida county availability | Select metro FL counties | 60+ of 67 counties (statewide) |
| Telehealth | MDLIVE virtual care | Available; copays vary by plan |
| Provider network | National Cigna network; selective FL participation | Broadest in Florida |
| Out-of-network coverage | Emergency only | PPO: Yes / HMO: Emergency only |
| Signature feature | MDLIVE telehealth; Express Scripts pharmacy | Statewide retail centers; BlueCard national network |
| 2026 approved rate change | +29.5% | +29.6% (HMO +29%) |
Cigna sells EPO and HMO plans in select Florida metros — primarily South Florida, Central Florida, and the Tampa Bay area — with out-of-network care covered for emergencies only. Its national network helps travelers, but its Florida county footprint is far smaller than Florida Blue's or Ambetter's.
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.
The network gap between these two carriers is the single most important thing to check before you enroll, because an ACA plan only pays in full when you stay in its network.
Sticker premiums rose across the board for 2026 — Florida's statewide weighted average climbed about 31.5% before subsidies. The illustrative Silver-plan figures below show how Cigna and Florida Blue compare in counties where both compete.
| County (35-yr-old, non-smoker, Silver) | Cigna | Florida Blue |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade County | ~$515/mo | ~$545/mo (HMO) / ~$615/mo (PPO) |
| Orange (Orlando) County | ~$490/mo | ~$510/mo (HMO) / ~$580/mo (PPO) |
| Hillsborough (Tampa) County | ~$480/mo | ~$500/mo (HMO) / ~$565/mo (PPO) |
Approximate 2026 unsubsidized premiums for a 35-year-old non-smoker, before APTC subsidies. What you actually pay is set by the benchmark Silver plan in your rating area; more than 95% of Florida enrollees qualify for a subsidy. As a reference point, regulators cited a 28-year-old in Duval County on a Silver plan moving from about $149 to roughly $281 per month for 2026.
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 County