A lot of people working between Tarpon Springs and the Skyway depend on seasonal earnings. I help Pinellas residents choose insurance based on their income throughout the year, including the slower months of August when the tourist crowds have disappeared.
Hi, I'm Sam Jaber. I'm a licensed health insurance broker working from Tampa, on the other side of the bay. I help plenty of Pinellas residents find coverage, including people who run their own businesses. Pinellas is Florida's most densely populated county, with Clearwater serving as the county seat and St. Petersburg as its largest city. Between those communities, you'll find a lot of people earning a living on their own terms.
Think about charter boat captains, people cleaning short-term rentals, bartenders with an ownership stake in their workplace, or hairstylists leasing chairs in Dunedin. Those are the kinds of people I work with, usually by phone. That same approach lets me serve clients throughout the 36 states where I'm licensed. You can also visit my Tampa page for information about the broader bay area.
Marketplace PPO coverage in Pinellas comes with premiums most people find difficult to justify, and the PPO choices all come from one insurance company. Fortunately, you aren't limited to those plans. I can help you explore a private PPO with a nationwide network. If you're in good health and don't qualify for premium assistance, I'd recommend getting that quote early in the comparison.
First, we need to look at your total annual income rather than just the month when business is strongest. That's what determines whether you qualify for a marketplace tax credit.
Next, we need to compare PPO premiums. Federal plan data lists 149 medical plans offered in Pinellas County by 6 insurers, but only 14 of those plans are PPOs. For a 40-year-old purchasing silver coverage, the lowest-priced PPO carries a premium 138% higher than the least expensive silver plan with another network type. Florida's insurance regulator also approved average increases of 34.1% in individual premiums for 2026 before subsidies are applied.
The first thing I want to know is whether your annual income will qualify for tax credits or fall above that range.
Imagine someone operating fishing charters from Madeira Beach. Business is strong throughout winter and spring, but slows considerably toward the end of summer. One storm could cancel an entire week's trips. Meanwhile, his wife earns money waiting tables during part of the year.
Suppose they apply for insurance during their busiest season and assume those earnings will continue all twelve months. They could estimate too much income and lose access to a credit they would otherwise receive. Applying during a slow month creates the opposite problem: they could estimate too little and face repayment when filing taxes. My approach is straightforward. We review actual deposits from the previous year, account for upcoming bookings, and arrive at an estimate they can reasonably defend when April comes.
When your income qualifies for those credits, a nearby marketplace HMO or EPO will generally cost you the least.
Next step: Show me your earnings from last year and the work booked for this year. We'll estimate income before selecting coverage.
A particularly successful season might raise your family's annual earnings beyond the marketplace tax credit limit. At that point, the full marketplace premium becomes a bigger expense, and comparing private coverage makes sense. Private PPO insurers review medical history before approving applicants. They might accept your application, reject it, or offer coverage that excludes a particular condition. For families in good health, the benefit can be a smaller monthly premium along with a provider network that extends beyond Florida.
Whether your preferred physicians practice at Bayfront in St. Pete or Mease Countryside in Safety Harbor, I'll verify their participation in the networks we're considering before you decide which insurance to buy.
Next step: Give me a call and I'll prepare both comparisons together: what a private PPO would cost and what you'd pay at the full marketplace rate using your Pinellas ZIP code.
Here's something many people don't anticipate. Marketplace tax credits generally begin at the federal poverty level, and because Florida hasn't expanded Medicaid, a year with very little income can leave you ineligible for either form of help. If a hurricane or a weak business season could bring your earnings close to that threshold, we should talk about it before you file rather than afterward.
Next step: If your earnings might drop that far, contact me early so we can review your choices before it's too late.
Start by calling me or scheduling a time to talk. I'll learn about your household, how your earnings change throughout the year, and which doctors matter to you. After that, I'll explain my recommendation and walk you through the prices. You don't pay me for this service. The insurer compensates me, and your premium stays the same whether you work with me or enroll yourself.
Straight answers, no sales pitch.
Based on the federal plan file, Pinellas County residents have 149 individual medical plans available through 6 insurance companies. Only 14 of those plans use PPO networks, and a single insurer offers all 14 of them.
Use what you actually earned last year as your starting point, then account for changes you expect this year. Relying on a single unusually strong or weak month can leave you owing tax credits back or receiving less help than you qualify for.
Yes. You can choose the costly marketplace PPO or apply for a nationwide private PPO if you're healthy. I can price both.
No office visit is needed. I handle nearly everything through phone or video appointments, and you can complete the paperwork at home.
Tell me which city you're in, who needs to be insured, and what you typically earn during your busiest and slowest months. I'll compare the total yearly cost of your coverage choices instead of focusing only on what things look like in March.
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