St. Petersburg has transformed from a retirement community into one of Florida's most dynamic small business cities — a growing technology and creative economy in the Edge District and downtown, a thriving arts and hospitality sector along Central Avenue and Beach Drive, healthcare services across Pinellas County, and professional services businesses serving both the local and Tampa Bay markets. Florida Blue and Aetna dominate the Pinellas County small group market. BayCare Health System (Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, St. Anthony's Hospital) and HCA Florida Northside Hospital are the primary facilities serving St. Petersburg employers.
Related resources:
Pinellas County Tax Deductions Pinellas County Group Plans How to Offer Coverage — Pinellas| Plan Tier | Total Premium/Employee/Month | Employer Share (65%) |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze HMO | $375–$485 | $244–$315 |
| Silver HMO | $450–$575 | $293–$374 |
| Gold HMO | $540–$685 | $351–$445 |
BayCare Health System is the dominant hospital network in Pinellas County — Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, St. Anthony's Hospital, and Morton Plant Hospital (Clearwater) are all part of the BayCare system and are generally in-network with Florida Blue and Aetna Pinellas County plans. HCA Florida Northside Hospital serves the northeast St. Petersburg area. For St. Petersburg employers, confirming BayCare system access covers the majority of employee healthcare needs. Tampa General Hospital across the bay is also accessible and worth verifying for specialized care needs.
Yes — BayCare Health System (Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, St. Anthony's Hospital, Morton Plant, and other BayCare facilities) is generally in-network with Florida Blue and Aetna Pinellas County small group plans. Verify specific facility-level network status for the plan type you select, as HMO and PPO network configurations differ. Your broker can confirm BayCare inclusion on specific plan options.
St. Petersburg is in Pinellas County; Tampa is in Hillsborough County. These are different rating areas, so premium rates can differ slightly between the two markets. Pinellas County rates are typically comparable to Hillsborough — both are mid-range for Florida. The Tampa Bay metro (Pinellas + Hillsborough) is generally less expensive than South Florida markets (Broward, Miami-Dade) but may be slightly higher than some Central Florida counties.
Typically 3–4 weeks. Apply by mid-month for 1st-of-next-month effective date. Florida Blue and Aetna process Pinellas County applications efficiently given the volume of Tampa Bay area small group business.
Compare Florida Blue and Aetna for your Pinellas County employees — no cost, no obligation.
Get St. Pete Quotes