Broward Health and Memorial Launch 22 Health Insurance

For the first time, Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System are teaming up to introduce their own insurance company, aimed at residents of Broward County. They’re entering the possibly lucrative Affordable Care Act market with this new initiative.

The insurer, named 22 Health, is set to reveal its plans on November 1. One key selling point is access to doctors and specialists from the two largest public health systems in the county, which encompass 11 hospitals.

22 Health will directly compete with Florida Blue and other insurance providers in Broward County, marking a new chapter for the hospital system’s healthcare offerings.

Both health systems are vying for contracts with Florida Blue, the largest health insurance company in the state, which covers over 6 million members statewide. There’s been some controversy, resulting in Broward Health and Memorial being removed from the Florida Blue network. Negotiations are still in progress, but currently, Florida Blue patients cannot schedule appointments with the hospital system, even if they’re willing to pay out-of-network. On Friday, Broward Health’s spokesperson, Jennifer Smith, mentioned that there’s been notable progress in negotiations, expressing hope for positive news within the coming month.

Florida Blue did not specifically comment on the entry of 22 Health into the market. However, a spokesperson mentioned that Florida Blue will have more products available in Broward County in 2026 than any other provider.

In 2026, 22 Health aims to offer Bronze, Silver, and Gold health plans, providing access to retail and mail-order pharmacies, with costs adjusted according to individual income and medical needs. Additionally, special programs will be available, including case management and care for chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, and hypertension.

Jessica Lerner, president and CEO of 22 Health, noted that this initiative will broaden access to quality healthcare services for individuals and families, particularly for those who are self-employed, transitioning between jobs, or whose employers don’t provide health insurance.

Florida is a popular state for ACA enrollment, having the highest number of enrollees in 2025 with 4.7 million individuals looking for health insurance through the open market. Enrollment has actually more than doubled since 2020, when 2 million Floridians had coverage.

In 2026, there will be 16 carriers offering plans in Florida, including Cigna, which plans to introduce five new options in Broward County. However, Aetna has announced it will withdraw all individual and family plans by the end of 2025, citing ongoing poor performance. Aetna members will need to find new insurance for 2026.

Broward County is expecting 196 plans to be available in the ACA Marketplace in 2026, an increase from 178 in 2025, with Florida Blue offering the largest selection of 65 different plans.

The launch of 22 Health comes during a tumultuous time, particularly as subsidies helping many policyholders with their premiums set to expire on December 31. Ongoing congressional disputes over extending these subsidies are contributing to the current government shutdown.

On a national level, health insurers are anticipated to raise premiums by an average of 26% in the ACA marketplaces for 2026. With the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, many enrollees could see their costs rise significantly, especially in Florida, where potential insurance premiums might soar to four times the current average by 2026.

22 Health is a new division of Community Care Plans, which has been serving over 100,000 members through various health plans since 2000. Spokesperson Suzanne Tamargo noted that it took three years to develop this new initiative.

Consultant Alan Baumgarten pointed out that this isn’t the first instance of a hospital system entering the ACA market, but he sees a unique opportunity for success here. He suggested that enrollees who prefer Memorial or Broward Health providers might opt for this new plan if they can’t reach their usual doctor through Florida Blue.

Florida is one of only eight states set to introduce new plans in the ACA Marketplace in 2026. Health policy analyst Louise Norris emphasized the importance of comparison shopping for insurance, as the new 22 Health option may or may not be the best fit for everyone.

Norris also suggested that 22 Health could potentially outperform Aetna and others in Broward County, particularly with a strong provider network in place. Ultimately, she mentioned, the profitability of carriers often hinges on the robustness of their network.

Open enrollment for ACA Marketplace plans starts on November 1 and lasts until January 15.