When Florida business owners ask us about alternatives to Florida Blue, Aetna is almost always the first name that comes up — and for good reason. Aetna offers small group plans statewide, competes aggressively on HMO pricing in most Florida markets, and brings a strong pharmacy benefit through CVS Health's integrated network. In our experience quoting Florida small groups, Aetna frequently comes in 5–15% below Florida Blue on Silver HMO in Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, and Central Florida markets.
That said, Aetna is not always the right choice. Network breadth varies by region — in South Florida and some rural counties, Florida Blue's provider network is meaningfully broader. The right call depends on where your employees actually go for care, which is why we always run a network adequacy check alongside the premium comparison.
What Aetna Offers Florida Small Employers
- HMO plans — Bronze, Silver, and Gold tier HMOs available in most Florida markets; generally the most competitive pricing
- PPO plans — available in select markets; higher premium but out-of-network flexibility
- HDHP + HSA-compatible plans — Bronze tier HDHPs available for employers pairing coverage with employee HSA contributions
- CVS Health integration — CVS MinuteClinics and the full CVS pharmacy network in-network under Aetna plans; popular with employees for quick care
- Teladoc virtual care — included in most Aetna small group plans at $0–$10 copay
Aetna vs. Florida Blue: The Key Tradeoff
In most Florida markets, Aetna and Florida Blue look very similar in terms of plan structure. The differences that actually matter for a specific business are:
- Premium: Aetna is often 5–15% lower than Florida Blue Silver HMO outside South Florida
- Network: Florida Blue's statewide network is broader — particularly in rural counties and smaller cities
- Pharmacy: Aetna's CVS integration is a meaningful differentiator for employees who use CVS for prescriptions or MinuteClinic for quick care
- Specialist access: In major Florida metros, both carriers have comparable specialist networks; differences emerge in suburban and rural areas
We run both Aetna and Florida Blue quotes side-by-side for every small group we work with. In the majority of cases, the Aetna option is worth serious consideration — but the final recommendation depends on your employees' specific provider relationships.
Our experience: For Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, and Central Florida businesses, Aetna is frequently our first quote recommendation alongside Florida Blue. For Miami-Dade and Broward businesses, Florida Blue's network advantage is more significant and we also bring Oscar and Ambetter into the comparison.