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Paycheck To Paycheck
More and more people are finding themselves living paycheck to paycheck in the greater Tampa Bay region. In some places, rent has doubled. The cost of everyday goods — like gas and groceries — keeps creeping up. All the while, wages lag behind and the affordable housing crisis looms. Amid cost-of-living increases, WUSF is focused on documenting how people are making ends meet.
Polk County expands income eligibility for its free healthcare plan
WUSF |
By
Gabriella Paul
Published July 29, 2026 at 4:47 PM EDT
Courtesy of Polk County
The program offers healthcare coverage to uninsured residents who don’t qualify for Medicaid. In July, Polk County expanded maximum income requirements from 200% to 300% of the federal poverty line
Polk County expanded its income requirements to qualify for its free healthcare plan
The Polk Healthcare Plan, which is funded by a half-cent sales surtax approved by voters in 2004, offers healthcare services to residents who are uninsured, ineligible for Medicaid or Medicare or priced out of other health insurance plans
On July 21, Polk County Commissioners approved a change to expand the program’s income requirements, raising the maximum income limit to 300% of the federal poverty line, or $99,000 for a family of four
It was previously set at 200% of the federal poverty line, according to a press release
Joy Johnson, the health and human services administrator for Polk County, said there’s an increased demand for the program due to the rising cost of living, lagging wages, growing population and sweeping healthcare policy changes, such as the expiration of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies and dropping Medicaid enrollment in Florida
Since June of 2024, Medicaid eligibility in Polk County has dipped from 202,020 to 186,518 residents. At the same time, Polk’s locally governed healthcare plan has increased its average monthly membership from around 5,600 to 5,900 residents
In Hillsborough County, Axios reports that enrollment in its locally governed health care plan has also increased 20% since ACA subsidies expired in December
“There are people who [aren’t] …going to…pay for a premium in the marketplace or try to go to the doctor proactively when they don’t have a health issue, because they’re trying to pay their electric bill, gas in their car, rent or mortgage,” she said
In Florida, a family of four with two adults, one infant and a preschooler, spends about $900 a month, on average, for health insurance premiums, according to United Way’s 2026 ALICE household survival budget
For many Floridians, the cost of basic needs, including healthcare, outpaces their household income even if they earn more than the federal poverty line, or $33,000 for a family of four
“They can’t afford insurance, but they’re outside of the income limits to be able to qualify,” Johnson said. “And that has been the theme that we’ve been hearing for quite some time.”
ALSO READ:The cost of living in Tampa Bay grows to $106K, annual report finds
To qualify for the Polk County HealthCare Plan, you must have:
- Proof of residency in Polk County
- Proof of income, earning below 300% of the federal poverty line
- Proof of U.S. citizenship
- No health insurance coverage or medical coverage, or have health insurance premiums that cost 9.12% of more of your household income
- Provide a Social Security number
- Have a valid photo ID card
Gabriella Paul covers the stories of people living paycheck to paycheck in the greater Tampa Bay region for WUSF. Here’s how you can share your story with her
