Being your own boss can be quite exciting; freedom to make your own schedule, take time off when you need it, and working from home...But one thing that can feel daunting when starting your self-employed journey: health insurance.
How do you get it if your employer was providing it before? Can you afford it? What are your options for health insurance if self-employed? What if you’re just short-term freelancing? McKnight & McKnight Insurance answers the ways you can get insurance coverage when you work for yourself!
How Do You Get Health Insurance if You’re Self-Employed?
Being a self-employed individual can mean that you own your own business, or that you have steady freelance income. Whichever camp that you fall into, having to be your own boss and find our own health insurance can feel like a challenge! Here are some of the options you have:
Health Insurance for the Permanently Self-Employed
Striking out on a new career path, there are a few different ways to cover your health care and insurance. Keep in mind a few factors such as what kind of coverage you are looking for, how much income you have coming in each month, and who in your family needs coverage. Here are your options:
Private Health Insurance
Some insurance providers have plans just for people who are self-employed! If you need a plan that has a wide range of benefits (including check-ups and preventative care) one of these private health insurance plans might be the best option. There are many cost–effective options and plans with higher deductibles but lower premiums.
Speak to an independent health insurance agent at McKnight & McKnight Insurance in Tampa to help find the best plan for you!
Health Insurance Marketplace
The government’s Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace is well-known, but can be complicated and confusing. Consumer mistakes are common. Insurance agents at McKnight & McKnight Insurance Solutions are licensed and certified to help you navigate your options on the Health Insurance Marketplace. We’ll help determine eligibility for tax credits, or subsidized health insurance premiums, then apply for coverage. Best of all, our services are free!
Experience our simple, fast and friendly service. CLICK HERE to schedule a quick phone appointment.
Health Care Sharing Ministries
One lesser-known option to cover your health care costs is a sharing ministry. While technically not health insurance, a health care sharing ministry is more like a group (a church or ministry) that pools their money together into a fund that pays for major health care costs of those in the group.
This might be a good option for you if you’re healthy and have no dependents, but there can be downsides. First, there are restrictions on what the ministry might agree to pay for, and they are not regulated by the Affordable Care Act, so they don’t have to cover your pre-existing conditions.
Health Insurance if You’re Self-Employed for the Short-Term
Sometimes your work situation can be quite unpredictable. One minute everything is going to plan, and then suddenly you might be out of your steady work for a while.
Let’s say that you had a group insurance plan with the company where you were previously employed. Now that you have left, and turned your passion into a small business for now, then short-term insurance may work for you while out of full-time work. Your options include:
COBRA
With COBRA insurance, you could carry on with the insurance plan from your previous employer. COBRA lets you keep your employer-based health plan temporarily for around 18 months. The catch? You’ll pay more for it each month because your employer is no longer contributing some of the premium costs.
Short-Term Health Insurance
If you’d rather save money on your premium, you could look into a short-term health insurance plan. These plans are usually capped at 12 months.
You can sign up for a short-term plan outside of the enrollment period, and your monthly payments will be low since it is a short-term policy. Be aware though, short-term policies have higher out-of-pocket costs and generally will not cover pre-existing conditions, if you have any. Make sure to ask a health insurance professional before signing up!
Industry-Specific Health Insurance
If you plan on freelancing while between jobs, you might be able to find a freelancers union that offers discounted health insurance plans. There are many of these industry-specific health insurance plans that range from caregivers to college alumni groups.
Remember: Always read the fine print! Insurance jargon can be quite confusing. The best plan of action is to employ an insurance agent to guide you through the process. These agents work (at no cost to you) to help you find the best plan for your needs and budget.
Your health insurance doesn’t have to be complicated! In just a few minutes, our local health insurance team can talk you through all of your options. We can help you find the best plan for your needs and budget. We’re keeping the promise of affordable coverage; call our Tampa, FL insurance company today!
Self-Employed Health Insurance Tips
Here are a few of our top pointers if you’re self-employed and looking for health insurance:
A High-Deductible Plan May Make Financial Sense
If your plan has a higher deductible, that means lower monthly premiums, which in turn reduces your monthly expenses. Once you pay your deductible amount, then your insurance will cover the rest of your health expenses.
Take The Self-Employed Health Insurance Tax Deduction
When you are self-employed, it’s important to know how to make your money work harder when you’re buying health insurance. Make sure to take advantage of the health insurance tax deduction for the self-employed. If you qualify, you are allowed to deduct 100% of your health insurance premiums from your adjusted gross income every year!
Get Expert Advice from an Independent Insurance Agent
When you are self-employed and in charge of finding the best health insurance plan, don’t leave it up to chance! Get the attention that you deserve expert advice from an independent insurance agent at McKnight & McKnight. We will help you navigate the world of health insurance so you can focus on doing what you love!
For more information on our services or to schedule a consultation, please contact us today at (866) 525-0368 or CLICK HERE to schedule your phone appointment. We appreciate the opportunity to help you, and look forward to finding the perfect health insurance policy for you!
