Key takeaways
- Florida residents can enroll in Original Medicare (parts A and B), Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Part D, and Medigap.
- Eligibility for Medicare in Florida requires individuals to be U.S. citizens or legal residents who are 65 years or older, or those with qualifying disabilities or medical conditions.
- For additional unbiased counseling and information about Medicare in Florida, individuals can contact Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE) or Medicare directly.
Medicare plans in Florida follow all federal guidelines for healthcare coverage for people 65 years old or older or with qualifying disabilities or medical conditions.
However, coverage specifications, additional benefits, and plans may vary. It is important to review all the options that are available in Florida.
Snapshot of Medicare in Florida
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported the following information on Medicare trends in Florida for the 2026 plan year:
- 24.43% of people with a stand-alone Part D plan get Extra Help.
- A total of 5,196,218 residents of Florida were enrolled in Medicare.
- The average monthly Medicare Advantage plan premium changed from $4.09 in 2025 to $2.11 in 2026
- There are 611 Medicare Advantage plans available in Florida for 2026, compared with 592 plans in 2025.
- All Florida residents with Medicare have access to buy a Medicare Advantage plan with a $0 premium.
- For 2026, there are 10 stand-alone Medicare Part D plans available in Florida, and the lowest monthly premium for a stand-alone Part D plan is $0.
- As in most states, 10 different Medigap plans are offered in Florida for 2026.
In Florida, as in other states, Medicare includes several types of coverage:
- Original Medicare: This plan is managed by the federal government, and includes Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). It doesn’t include prescription drug coverage.
- Medicare Advantage (Part C): These plans are offered by private insurers and include all Original Medicare benefits along with other perks such as vision, dental, and drug coverage. Some plans have limited provider networks, so beneficiaries should confirm their doctors are in-network before enrolling.
- Medicare Part D: This is a private, stand-alone plan for prescription drug coverage. People can pair Part D with Original Medicare or with a Part C plan that doesn’t include drug benefits.
- Medigap (Medicare Supplement): These are private plans that help pay for out-of-pocket costs under Original Medicare, such as copays and coinsurance. Medigap can’t be used with Medicare Advantage. A person can choose among 10 standardized plans.
Availability for private plans varies by county, and beneficiaries can check Medicare.gov for local options.
Medicare eligibility
To be eligible for Medicare, a person must be a U.S. citizen or a legal resident of the United States, be 65 years old or older, or have certain disabilities or medical conditions, such as end stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
When choosing a plan, a person may consider provider networks, costs, and quality ratings. A person has the option to:
- Initial Enrollment: Enroll 3 months before to 3 months after their 65th birthday.
- Open Enrollment: Join or change plans from October 15 to December 7
- Medicare Advantage Enrollment: Switch Advantage plans from January 1 to March 31
- Special enrollment period: Enroll after a qualifying life change, such as losing job-based coverage.
A person eligible for Medicare due to a disability will be automatically enrolled. If they are eligible based on age, they will need to enroll.
People living in Florida may wish to consider some factors when choosing a Medicare plan, including:
- Healthcare needs: If a person has certain health conditions, such as diabetes or HIV, they may wish to look into Special Needs Plans, which are specially tailored to individual needs.
- Doctor choice: Many Medicare plans have a network of doctors and other healthcare professionals. Before choosing a plan, a person may wish to check that their current doctor is in the plan’s network.
- Services covered: Both Original Medicare and Advantage plans must provide the same coverage as Part A and Part B. However, people may want to consider additional benefits that may be important to them, such as gym memberships, vision, and dental.
- Out-of-pocket costs: Monthly premiums are not the only costs to consider when choosing Medicare plans. People are also responsible for copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
Individuals in Florida who are looking for more information about Medicare can contact Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE) at 800-963-5337. SHINE provides free and unbiased counseling and information to people with Medicare.
People can also contact Medicare directly 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 800-633-4227 or via online chat.
Medicare resources
For more resources to help guide you through the complex world of medical insurance, visit our Medicare hub.
Florida residents have various Medicare plan options, including Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medigap.
Individuals who have questions about Medicare can contact SHINE or Medicare directly via phone or online chat.