Some Florida customers of the Affordable Care Act are being automatically enrolled in new 2027 health plans, often without realizing it. A West Palm Beach woman said she expected to shop for coverage after her current insurer left the program at the end of the year, but she did not expect to be signed up for another plan.
Melissa Smith said she began getting calls, texts and emails from a health insurance company congratulating her on her enrollment, followed by a bill. She said it took a long time to learn whether her doctor was in that company’s network, and her doctor is not.
Scott Darius of Florida Voices for Health said the experience is common. When a plan changes or disappears, the marketplace often places enrollees in a plan it considers similar. Darius said choosing a plan on your own can typically cancel an automatic enrollment.
Open enrollment in Florida begins Nov. 1, and the period ends Jan. 15. Darius said most insurers have already posted 2027 rates, and overall rates are up about 10%. He recommended making a list of priorities, such as keeping current doctors or covering specific medications, and then working with a trusted adviser to compare options. Enrollment is handled through healthcare.gov.
