Self-Employed Health Insurance Options

Getting health insurance coverage can be difficult if you are self-employed. Without an employer shouldering a portion of your healthcare, costs can be expensive. Your premium rates might also be higher compared to those who are employed. If you are self-employed, you must learn how to choose the proper health insurance plan for you and your family.

Imagine you get a phone call in the middle of the night telling you your son or daughter had an accident and is at the ER right now. Without a health insurance plan, you could be paying for the entire bill and end up in a financial crisis. Even if none of your family members meet an accident, you can still end up losing a lot of money through routine medical checkups.

Many self-employed individuals choose not to have any health insurance coverage because of high costs. Since we cannot ignore the importance of health insurance coverage, how can you get high-quality self-employed health insurance?

The following are important steps to get self-employed health insurance:

1. Survey the market. Before considering which plan to buy, you should get at least three health insurance quotes from reliable sources. Or, visit a site that will give you a general idea of which price range you fall into.
2. Get referrals from trusted sources like family, friends, colleagues, and other self-employed individuals.
3. If you can’t find the time to do the research, you can seek help from respected health insurance agents or brokers. They are trained to get you the best deals possible for your case.
4. Study your options. Learn more about the healthcare industry and corresponding laws before choosing the best plan for you and your family.
5. You should know your rights and responsibilities as an individual with health coverage.

Small business owners are qualified to get small-group health plans. These plans are less expensive compared to individual plans.

Individual plans are also available from major health insurance companies such as Aetna, EmblemHealth, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Individual plans may be more expensive or have fewer benefits compared to group health plans.

Before purchasing a health insurance plan, you must know what you’re getting — what the deductible is, what hospitals and physicians are covered, and if it includes dental and vision. This will help you narrow down your search even further and help you make the right choice.