Wednesday, November 11, is Veterans Day, a federal holiday, and a quiet thank you to the veterans and families who live in our neighborhoods. It is also a good day to settle a pending matter: health insurance for veterans. If you are enrolled in TRICARE or in the VA health care program, you are considered covered under the health care law. If you are a veteran and you do not have VA benefits or other veterans coverage, you can enroll in the Marketplace.
That is the fork in the road. On one side, the VA system, with its own eligibility rules and its own costs. On the other, Marketplace plans that are already open for 2027. In the middle, almost always, is the family: a spouse, children, a parent who depends on you and who does not automatically get what you earned through your service. If you are weighing options for health coverage for your household, start by figuring out which door is yours.
Does VA or TRICARE coverage count as health insurance?
Yes. Being enrolled in the VA health care program or in TRICARE counts as having coverage under the health care law, according to HealthCare.gov. If your VA coverage works for you, you do not need a Marketplace plan to count as covered.
Many people mix up being enrolled in VA health care with being eligible for it. Plenty of veterans qualify and never finished the application: if they have no other insurance, they are uninsured today. And if you are in a VA health program, your dependents may not qualify for it. In that case they can enroll in the Marketplace on their own.
Separately, there is the TRICARE option for young adults. It is a different program with its own rules. Do not confuse it with the health care law rule that lets a child stay on a parent’s plan until age 26. Two separate things.
Who qualifies for VA health care
You may qualify for VA health care if you served in the active military, naval, or air service and did not receive a dishonorable discharge. That is the foundation. From there come the service time requirements and a review of your record, your disability rating, and your income.
The September 7, 1980 rule
The rule applies if you enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981. In that case you must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which you were called to active duty. There are exceptions, such as a discharge for a disability caused or made worse by active duty. That is why it pays to file even if you think you fall short: the VA makes the determination.
How to apply
You apply with form 10-10EZ at VA.gov. Univista Insurance does not process VA enrollments; the VA handles that directly. We help you sort out what happens with the rest of your family while you wait for an answer.
VA priority groups and what they mean for your wallet
The VA assigns every enrolled veteran to one of eight priority groups. Your service history, your disability percentage, your income level, your Medicaid eligibility, and other benefits all weigh in. If you qualify for more than one, you get the highest one, according to the VA page on priority groups. That group sets your copays.
| Group | Main criterion |
|---|---|
| 1 | Service-connected disability rated 50% or more, a determination of being unemployable due to service-connected disability, or Medal of Honor |
| 2 | Service-connected disability rated 30% or 40% |
| 3 | Former prisoner of war, Purple Heart, discharge for a disability caused or made worse by active duty, service-connected disability rated 10% or 20% |
| 4 | Receiving Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits, or a VA determination of catastrophic disability |
| 5 | No service-connected disability or a noncompensable 0% rating, with annual income below the VA adjusted limits; also those eligible for Medicaid or receiving a VA pension |
| 6 | Combat veterans, radiation exposure, toxic exposure activities, Gulf War, Camp Lejeune |
| 7 | Household gross income below the geographically adjusted limit for where you live, and agreement to pay copays |
| 8 | Household gross income above the national and geographic limits, agreement to pay copays, and specific enrollment criteria met |
Combat veterans land in Group 6 with enhanced enrollment for 10 years from the discharge date, unless they qualify for a higher group. That is spelled out in the VA Health Care Benefits Overview 2025. The same guide says veterans who live in high-cost areas may qualify for a reduced inpatient copay rate.
The VA has no tax credit like the Marketplace does. It has annual income limits. They change each year and depend on where you live, whether you have a spouse or dependents, and certain deductible expenses. The VA explains this on its page about health care income limits. Living in Miami-Dade or in Osceola can change the math.
Health insurance for veterans without VA benefits, and for your family
If you are a veteran without VA benefits, you can enroll in the Marketplace and may qualify for lower costs based on your income and household size. If you are in the VA but your spouse and children do not qualify for that program, they can have their own Marketplace plan. Those are separate applications, and the household you report matters for the calculation.
Florida uses HealthCare.gov. Open enrollment for 2027 started November 1, 2026. December 15 is the last day to enroll or change plans with coverage starting January 1. January 15 is the last day of open enrollment. If you sign up between December 16 and January 15, coverage starts February 1.
Florida has more Marketplace consumers than any other state: 4,538,772 people selected a plan or were automatically re-enrolled during open enrollment for 2026, according to CMS state-level data. With that many people doing the same paperwork, do not leave it for the last day. Read how the open enrollment period works before you sit down to compare.
What should you do this week if you live in Florida?
If you are a veteran who never applied to the VA, file form 10-10EZ at VA.gov. List everyone in your home who would be uninsured in January. And review your expected 2027 household income, because that drives the Marketplace help calculation.
That list usually includes children over 26, a spouse who does not qualify for VA care, or a parent in your household. Each one needs their own look. The income you report for 2027 is an estimate of what you expect to earn, not what you earned last year. A licensed agent can walk you through how to build that number.
Univista Insurance has offices across South and Central Florida. A licensed agent compares the 2027 Marketplace plans with you and explains each line before you sign. By phone, online, or in person, in English or Spanish. Get your free quote.
Frequently asked questions
Still have questions about coverage? We answer more of them in our health insurance FAQs.
What decides my eligibility and my costs in VA health care?
Your priority group, from 1 to 8. The VA assigns it based on your service history, your disability percentage, your income, your Medicaid eligibility, and other benefits. If you qualify for several groups at once, the VA puts you in the highest one, and that group defines the copays you owe.
Can my spouse and kids use my VA health care?
Not always. If you are enrolled in a VA health program, your dependents may not qualify for that program. When they do not, they can enroll in the Marketplace on their own and may qualify for lower costs based on income and household size. It is a separate application from yours.
Is there an income-based subsidy inside the VA?
Not like the Marketplace tax credit. The VA applies annual income limits that vary by where you live and how many dependents you have. Veterans who live in high-cost areas may qualify for a reduced inpatient copay rate, according to the VA Health Care Benefits Overview 2025.
I am a combat veteran who recently separated. Do I get a special window?
Yes. Enhanced enrollment in Priority Group 6 runs 10 years from your discharge date, unless you qualify for a higher group. The VA Health Care Benefits Overview 2025 lays this out. Filing your application inside that window is the smart move.
When do I have to enroll for 2027 coverage in Florida?
Open enrollment for 2027 started November 1, 2026. To have coverage begin January 1, you must enroll or change plans by December 15. Open enrollment closes January 15. If you enroll between December 16 and January 15, your coverage starts February 1.
Talk with a licensed agent, get a free quote and see if you qualify for lower costs.
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