The Florida Health Insurance Exchange Act establishes a framework for the creation of the Florida Health Insurance Exchange within the Office of Insurance Regulation. This exchange is designed to facilitate the purchase and sale of qualified health and dental plans for individuals and small employers, with the goal of reducing the number of uninsured individuals and providing a transparent marketplace. The exchange will be responsible for certifying health and dental benefit plans, operating a toll-free hotline, maintaining an informative website, and implementing enrollment periods. Starting January 1, 2028, the exchange must make qualified health plans available to eligible individuals and employers, while prohibiting the offering of non-qualified plans.

Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for the certification and management of health benefit plans in alignment with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). It allows for certifications that exempt individuals from the individual responsibility penalty if they lack access to affordable health plans. The exchange will also be responsible for selecting navigators to assist with public education and enrollment, reviewing premium growth rates, and ensuring compliance with financial integrity requirements. The legislation emphasizes transparency regarding premium increases and mandates compliance with state insurance regulations, with the act set to take effect on July 1, 2026, contingent upon the passage of related legislation.