Moving to Florida means sunshine, lower taxes, and a lifestyle upgrade. It also means navigating an entirely new healthcare system — and for many relocating families, particularly those coming from countries with universal healthcare, the transition is one of the most confusing parts of the move.
American healthcare is complex even for people who've lived here their whole lives. For newcomers, the combination of employer-based coverage, marketplace plans, provider networks, and out-of-pocket costs can feel like a foreign language. But the system is navigable once you understand the key pieces, and getting it right early will save you significant money and stress.
Here's what to do in your first 90 days.
If You Have Employer-Based Coverage
If you or your spouse are relocating for a job, your employer's health insurance plan will likely be your primary coverage. Most employer plans are national, which means they'll cover you in Florida — but the provider network may change.
The first thing to do after your move is confirm that your plan's network includes providers in your new area. PPO plans generally offer the most flexibility for out-of-network care. HMO plans are more restrictive and may require you to select a new primary care physician within the network. Contact your employer's HR department or your insurance carrier to request an updated provider directory for Southeast Florida. If you're on an HMO, you'll need to select a new primary care physician before you can get referrals to specialists.
If You Need to Buy Your Own Coverage
If you're self-employed, retired, or between jobs, you'll need to purchase individual coverage. Moving to a new state qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, which gives you 60 days from your move date to enroll in a new plan.
Key steps:
Visit HealthCare.gov (Florida uses the federal marketplace) and enter your new Florida address.
Compare plans by tier: Bronze (lowest premiums, highest out-of-pocket costs), Silver, Gold, and Platinum (highest premiums, lowest out-of-pocket costs).
Check whether you qualify for premium tax credits, which are based on household income.
Pay close attention to the provider network. The cheapest plan means nothing if none of the doctors near you accept it.
If your income is too high for ACA subsidies and you want more comprehensive coverage, private health insurance brokers in South Florida can help you access plans outside the marketplace, including concierge medicine memberships and supplemental coverage options.
For Families Relocating From the UK
If you're coming from the NHS, the American system will feel disorienting. There's no GP surgery to register at, no automatic coverage, and no assumption that healthcare is free at the point of service. Everything here operates through insurance, and the financial exposure for uninsured or underinsured families is substantial.
The most important thing to do before your move is ensure that you have coverage in place from day one of your Florida residency. If there's a gap between leaving the UK and starting a US-based plan, consider international health insurance or travel insurance with medical coverage as a bridge. Do not go without coverage, even for a few weeks.
You'll also need to adjust to the US approach to primary care. In Florida, you choose a primary care physician (PCP) who serves as your first point of contact for non-emergency health issues. Your PCP will refer you to specialists as needed. Finding a good PCP early is one of the most important healthcare decisions you'll make.
Finding Doctors: How to Build Your Medical Team
South Florida has an abundance of healthcare providers, but finding the right ones takes some effort. Here's a practical approach:
Primary Care Physician (PCP): Ask for recommendations from neighbors, school parents, or your relocation advisor. Online reviews can be helpful, but word-of-mouth referrals from other transplants are often more reliable. Make sure the provider accepts your insurance and is taking new patients — both of which can be harder to confirm than you'd expect.
Pediatrician: If you have children, finding a pediatrician should be near the top of your first-week checklist. Florida schools require specific immunizations and a physical exam for enrollment, and your pediatrician will handle these. Many families interview two or three practices before choosing one.
Dentist and orthodontist: Dental care is not typically covered by standard health insurance in the US. You'll need a separate dental plan or pay out of pocket. South Florida has excellent dental providers, but costs can be significantly higher than what UK families are accustomed to.
Specialists: If anyone in your family sees specialists regularly — cardiologist, allergist, dermatologist — begin identifying local providers as soon as your insurance is active. Wait times for specialists in popular practices can be several weeks, so booking early is wise.
Mental health providers: Demand for therapists and psychiatrists in South Florida is high, and availability can be limited, particularly for providers who accept insurance rather than cash-only. If mental health care is a priority for your family, start this search early.
Urgent Care and Emergency Rooms
One of the biggest adjustments for new residents — especially those from countries with universal healthcare — is understanding when to use urgent care versus the emergency room.
Urgent care clinics are walk-in facilities that handle non-life-threatening issues: minor injuries, infections, fevers, sprains, and similar concerns. They're faster and dramatically less expensive than emergency rooms. South Florida has urgent care clinics in virtually every commercial corridor, and most accept major insurance plans.
Emergency rooms are for genuine emergencies — chest pain, severe bleeding, difficulty breathing, head injuries, or anything that feels life-threatening. ER visits are expensive, even with insurance, and wait times can be long for non-critical cases.
Teaching your family this distinction early will save both money and frustration.
Prescriptions and Pharmacy
Prescription medication in the US is handled through pharmacies — CVS, Walgreens, and Publix are the most common in South Florida. Your doctor sends prescriptions electronically, and you pick them up at the pharmacy.
Costs vary enormously depending on your insurance plan's formulary (the list of covered medications). Generic drugs are typically inexpensive, but branded medications can have high copays. If you're taking ongoing medications, check your plan's formulary before enrolling to ensure your prescriptions are covered at a reasonable cost.
If you're transitioning from UK prescriptions, bring a detailed list of your current medications (including generic names and dosages) and share it with your new PCP. They'll issue new US prescriptions — UK prescriptions are not valid in the United States.
The 90-Day Checklist
To summarize what needs to happen in your first three months:
Within the first week, confirm your insurance coverage is active in Florida, and if buying individual coverage, begin your marketplace enrollment immediately. Within the first two weeks, select and schedule appointments with a PCP and pediatrician. Within the first month, register with a dentist, transfer prescriptions, and locate your nearest urgent care clinic. Within 90 days, complete any specialist referrals, ensure all family members have had required physicals and immunizations, and review your coverage to confirm it's meeting your needs.
Healthcare is one of those areas where a little front-loaded effort pays dividends for years. Get it right early, and it becomes invisible. Neglect it, and it becomes the most stressful part of your relocation.
Need help connecting with trusted healthcare providers and insurance advisors in South Florida? Adam Jacobs works with a network of local professionals who specialize in helping relocating families get set up. Reach out at adam@jacobsrelocation.com