Health insurance costs go up again, Geico cuts jobs in Lakeland, and a cold front is on the way. Here is what Tampa Bay needs to know this Sunday.
By Joseph Jackson | TAMPA (Nov. 8, 2026)
The short version
ACA premiums in Florida rise an average 10.4% for 2027, before subsidies. Sign up by Dec. 15 for coverage that starts Jan. 1.
Geico is cutting 114 jobs tied to its Lakeland office, starting Dec. 31.
Beautiful weather today; a big cold front arrives Thursday.
Health care: open enrollment is on
Floridians shopping for 2027 health coverage will see higher prices. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation approved an average 10.4% increase in individual ACA premiums, from $811 to $898 a month before subsidies, CiberCuba reported.
It comes after a hard year. About 440,000 Floridians left the ACA marketplace in 2026 after the enhanced federal subsidies expired, the largest drop of any state, Axios Tampa Bay reported. Florida still leads the nation, with nearly 4 million enrolled.
Deadlines to know:
Enroll and pay your first premium by Dec. 15 for coverage that starts Jan. 1.
Sign up Dec. 16 through Jan. 15 and coverage starts Feb. 1.
Shop and compare at HealthCare.gov, Florida's official marketplace. Check your subsidy amount before you auto-renew.
What about the new federal Medicaid work requirements starting Jan. 1? They apply only to adults covered through the ACA Medicaid expansion. Florida never expanded Medicaid, so the federal work requirement does not apply here. (Corrected: an earlier version of this story said the Medicaid changes could cause coverage losses in Florida starting Dec. 31.)
Read more: Florida health insurance for 2027: your deadlines and free help
Jobs: Geico cuts in Lakeland
Geico will begin laying off 114 employees tied to its Lakeland office by the end of the year, according to a notice the company filed with the state, The Ledger reported. The cuts hit remote workers in its Staff Counsel and Florida PIP group. They roll out in stages from Dec. 31 through about April 30, and Geico says they are permanent.
Laid-off workers can get help through CareerSource Florida and can apply for reemployment assistance. Read more: Geico will cut 114 jobs tied to its Lakeland office
Around Tampa Bay
Ybor City: One year after a deadly crash, safety changes in the district are still under way. A vigil is set for 6 p.m. tonight at Centennial Park. Read our story.
After the election: Byron Donalds, elected Tuesday, will be Florida's first Black governor. Homeowners who live in their homes are set to see a property tax cut after Amendment 3 passed, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Weather
Another beautiful day: low humidity, sunny skies, upper 70s at the beaches and low to mid 80s inland. Enjoy it. A big front arrives Thursday with much colder air behind it, Tampa Bay 28 forecasts.
Tonight
The Bucs (3-5) play the Bears (6-2) at Soldier Field at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC, Buccaneers.com.
Sources
CiberCuba, 2027 Florida ACA premiums — https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2026-10-29-u1-e43231-s27061-nid344197-seguros-medicos-individuales-florida-primas-medias
Axios Tampa Bay, 440,000 drop in ACA enrollees — https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/07/14/florida-drop-in-aca-enrollees-after-subsidies-expire
The Ledger (via Pembroke Pines News), Geico Lakeland layoffs — https://www.pembrokepinesflnews.com/news/article317931326.html
Tampa Bay Times, Elections — https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/elections/
Tampa Bay 28, Sunday forecast — https://www.tampabay28.com/weather/forecast-beautiful-sunday-weather
Buccaneers.com, how to watch — https://www.buccaneers.com/news/how-to-watch-buccaneers-at-bears-week-9-2026
FOX 13 Tampa Bay, Ybor City crash anniversary (Nov. 7, 2026)