The short answer
An ACA Marketplace plan is full health insurance. It covers pre-existing conditions, it can come with a tax credit, and it caps what you pay in a year. A fixed indemnity plan like UnitedHealthcare Health ProtectorGuard (HPG) pays set cash amounts per service and leaves the rest of the bill to you, with no cap.
Our view: if you qualify for a tax credit or have any ongoing health need, start with the ACA plan. HPG is worth a look if you're healthy, your income is too high for a credit, or you're between enrollment windows and want something now.
Side by side
| Question | ACA Marketplace plan | Fixed indemnity (HPG) |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-existing conditions | Covered. You can't be turned down or charged more for them. | Can be limited. See the brochure. |
| Health questions | None | Yes, before you're approved |
| Out-of-pocket maximum | Yes, a yearly cap on in-network costs | None |
| Tax credits | Yes, based on income (up to 400% of the poverty level for 2027) | No |
| When you can enroll | Open Enrollment, November 1 to January 15, or a Special Enrollment Period after a life event | Any month of the year |
| What the plan pays | A share of the bill, after copays, deductible and coinsurance | A set cash amount per service, whatever the bill |
| Preventive care | No cost in network | A wellness exam benefit of $100, $125 or $150, once a year |
| Mental health and counseling | Covered as an essential health benefit | Not covered the way ACA plans must. Check the brochure. |
| Counts as health coverage (minimum essential coverage) | Yes | No |
| Network | Depends on the company and plan type (HMO, EPO, PPO) | UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus |
| Price by county | Companies, plans and prices differ by county | Same in every Florida county we quoted |
How a hospital stay compares
A hospital stay shows the difference best. On an ACA plan, you pay your deductible and coinsurance until you reach the out-of-pocket maximum. After that, the plan pays for covered in-network care for the rest of the year. A bad year has a ceiling.
On HPG, you get an admission benefit, a set amount per day and a hospital doctor benefit. Whatever the bill costs beyond that is yours, and there's no ceiling. Here is what each HPG plan pays for a 3-night stay:
| Example | Example bill | Plan pays | You pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select 2000: Emergency room visit | $2,400 | $300 | $2,100 |
| Select 2000: 3-night hospital stay | $15,000 | $8,300 | $6,700 |
| Preferred 4000: Emergency room visit | $2,400 | $500 | $1,900 |
| Preferred 4000: 3-night hospital stay | $15,000 | $15,000 | $0 |
| Premier 5000: Emergency room visit | $2,400 | $1,000 | $1,400 |
| Premier 5000: 3-night hospital stay | $15,000 | $15,000 | $0 |
Example bills are typical in-network prices our plan explainer uses, not quotes from a hospital. Real bills vary a lot. Fixed indemnity has no out-of-pocket maximum, so a bigger bill means you pay more.
For a short stay, the higher HPG plans can pay a large share. Add surgery, intensive care or a second admission in the same year and the bills can pass the benefits quickly. The hospital indemnity page works through why.
What each one costs
ACA prices depend on your income, because the tax credit is taken off. For 2027 you're expected to pay a share of income toward the benchmark Silver plan, from 2.15% to 10.22% depending on income, and the credit covers the rest. Above 400% of the poverty level there's no credit for 2027. Our form takes the estimated credit off for you, and the subsidies page explains how it's figured.
HPG prices depend on age, sex and tobacco, and they don't change with income. Here they are by age from live quotes:
| Age | Select 2000 | Preferred 4000 | Premier 5000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | $90.13 | $136.90 | $188.36 |
| 25 | $99.17 | $150.93 | $209.32 |
| 30 | $122.69 | $189.73 | $259.91 |
| 35 | $130.50 | $202.53 | $277.98 |
| 40 | $145.80 | $229.71 | $313.19 |
| 45 | $158.09 | $250.36 | $342.63 |
| 50 | $178.25 | $283.02 | $390.71 |
| 55 | $202.20 | $322.65 | $447.87 |
| 60 | $234.19 | $375.92 | $523.75 |
| 64 | $263.42 | $426.35 | $592.80 |
| Age | Select 2000 | Preferred 4000 | Premier 5000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | $59.66 | $91.43 | $125.19 |
| 25 | $68.33 | $105.83 | $145.40 |
| 30 | $78.97 | $123.36 | $170.21 |
| 35 | $92.39 | $145.52 | $201.59 |
| 40 | $113.84 | $179.37 | $248.15 |
| 45 | $139.77 | $222.85 | $309.44 |
| 50 | $173.42 | $279.91 | $389.52 |
| 55 | $217.37 | $355.83 | $494.42 |
| 60 | $273.48 | $453.61 | $628.84 |
| 64 | $321.97 | $539.84 | $743.76 |
UnitedHealthcare Health ProtectorGuard, monthly price, no tobacco.
Source: Live UnitedHealthcare quotes from our quote engine on October 24, 2026. The price was the same in all 12 Florida counties we quoted. Your price depends on your age, sex and tobacco use.
Compare these with your own ACA quote, not a full-price one. The credit is often what decides it.
Who should pick which
Pick an ACA plan if you have a health condition, take regular medicine, are pregnant or planning to be, want counseling covered, or want a firm limit on a bad year. Pick it too if your income falls between 100% and 400% of the poverty level, since you likely qualify for a credit. Between 100% and 250%, a Silver plan also gets extra savings that lower the deductible and copays.
HPG can fit if you're 18 to 64, healthy enough to pass the health questions, earn too much for a credit, and accept that a serious illness could cost you far more than the plan pays. It's also an option if you missed open enrollment and don't qualify for a special enrollment period.
Common mistakes
- Thinking HPG is an Obamacare plan. It isn't, and it doesn't count as health coverage under the ACA.
- Skipping the ACA quote because you assume you won't get a credit. Run the numbers first.
- Forgetting the yearly limits. Select 2000 pays for 4 office visits a year, Preferred 4000 for 6 and Premier 5000 for 10.
- Counting on HPG for a condition you already have. Pre-existing conditions can be limited.
- Dropping an ACA plan mid-year to switch. Ending coverage on purpose doesn't open a special enrollment period, so getting back in may mean waiting for open enrollment.
- Missing December 15. That's the deadline for ACA coverage starting January 1.
Common questions
Is there a penalty in Florida for not having an ACA plan?
No. The federal penalty for going without coverage ended in 2019, and Florida doesn't have its own. Going without still means you'd pay the full cost of care yourself.
Can I have both an ACA plan and HPG?
Yes. Some people keep an ACA plan for the yearly cap and add HPG for set cash toward deductibles and copays. You'd pay two premiums, and HPG's health questions still apply.
If I buy HPG now, can I switch to an ACA plan later?
Yes, during open enrollment or a special enrollment period. Ending HPG doesn't open one by itself, because HPG isn't minimum essential coverage.
Which one is cheaper?
That depends on your income. With a tax credit, an ACA plan can cost less than you'd expect. Without one, compare both on the form and remember that a lower monthly price on HPG comes with no cap on what a serious illness costs.
Do Silver plans change the comparison?
They can. If your income is between 100% and 250% of the poverty level, Silver plans come with extra savings that lower the deductible and copays. Those savings are only on Silver.