Molina Healthcare of Florida built its book on rock-bottom value plans, but its 40.8% approved increase is the steepest among Florida's major 2026 carriers. 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 Molina 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.
A licensed Florida agent can pull Molina and Florida Blue quotes for your ZIP and confirm whether your doctors are in-network with each — at no cost to you.
A licensed Florida agent will reach out shortly with your Molina and Florida Blue options.
Lowest-premium positioning: Molina's strategy is value: low-cost HMO plans aimed at subsidy-eligible shoppers who want the smallest possible premium. In the counties it serves, Molina is frequently among the cheapest Silver and Bronze options.
Medicaid-to-marketplace continuity: Molina is one of Florida's largest Medicaid managed-care organizations, so members who lose Medicaid eligibility can often move to a Molina marketplace plan and keep similar community and safety-net providers.
Simple, predictable plan designs: Molina favors straightforward HMO plan designs with community health centers and FQHCs at the core, which keeps costs down for members who use those providers.
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 | Molina | Florida Blue |
|---|---|---|
| Founded / status | Medicaid-rooted value carrier | 1944 (80+ years in FL) |
| Plan types | HMO | HMO + PPO |
| Florida county availability | Select counties; heavy South & Central FL | 60+ of 67 counties (statewide) |
| Telehealth | Virtual care included | Available; copays vary by plan |
| Provider network | Narrow, cost-focused | Broadest in Florida |
| Out-of-network coverage | Emergency only | PPO: Yes / HMO: Emergency only |
| Signature feature | Lowest-premium value plans | Statewide retail centers; BlueCard national network |
| 2026 approved rate change | +40.8% (the steepest among FL majors) | +29.6% (HMO +29%) |
Molina runs narrow, cost-managed networks built around community health centers and safety-net providers, concentrated in South and Central Florida. Its 40.8% approved increase for 2026 — the steepest of the state's major carriers — means its price advantage is thinner than in past years, so compare the post-subsidy net premium carefully.
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 Molina and Florida Blue compare in counties where both compete.
| County (35-yr-old, non-smoker, Silver) | Molina | Florida Blue |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade County | ~$455/mo | ~$545/mo (HMO) / ~$615/mo (PPO) |
| Orange (Orlando) County | ~$435/mo | ~$510/mo (HMO) / ~$580/mo (PPO) |
| Hillsborough (Tampa) County | ~$425/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.
Are both Molina and Florida Blue available in my Florida county?
Molina Healthcare of Florida sells HMO plans in select counties, concentrated in South and Central Florida. It is a value-focused carrier rooted in Medicaid managed care, so its networks center on community health centers and safety-net providers. Confirm availability by ZIP code before enrolling. 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.
Is Molina the cheapest marketplace plan in Florida?
Molina is often among the lowest-premium options in the counties it serves, which is its core strategy as a value carrier. However, its 40.8% approved rate increase for 2026 is the steepest among Florida's major carriers, so it is no longer guaranteed to be the cheapest in every area. Compare the net premium after subsidies, since the benchmark Silver plan in your rating area determines what you actually pay.
Which costs less in Florida for 2026, Molina or Florida Blue?
It depends on your county and subsidy. For 2026, Molina's approved rate change was +40.8% (the steepest among FL majors) and Florida Blue's was +29.6% (HMO +29%), but what you actually pay is set by the benchmark Silver plan in your rating area after the Advance Premium Tax Credit. More than 95% of Florida marketplace enrollees receive a subsidy, so compare the net premium for the specific Silver plans offered at your ZIP code rather than the sticker price.
Should I choose Molina or Florida Blue?
Choose Molina if you are subsidy-eligible and want the lowest possible premium. Choose Florida Blue if you want ppo flexibility and out-of-network coverage. The deciding factors are usually county availability, whether your doctors are in each network, plan type (HMO vs. HMO + PPO), and the net premium after subsidies.
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 | Florida Blue vs. Ambetter | Ambetter vs. Molina | SunState Coverage