Health Insurance When You Work for Yourself
No employer plan does not mean no options. There are three places to look: Marketplace plans, private major medical, and sometimes a small group plan. Owners often save by looking at all three, and we do that comparison for you.
Three ways to cover yourself
Neither is automatically better. It depends on your health, your budget, and whether you qualify for savings.
ACA Marketplace Plans
What it does: if your household income qualifies, the government gives a monthly tax credit that lowers the premium, and pre-existing conditions are covered with no underwriting.
What it does not: without a subsidy it is usually the most expensive option with some of the most limited networks, and you can usually only enroll during Open Enrollment or after a qualifying life event.
Private Major Medical
What it does: private plans can be more affordable for healthy people and are available year-round. The finder shows real rates and walks you through enrollment.
What it does not: it is not a subsidy-based Marketplace plan. Private plans ask health questions, some have coverage limits, and "limited medical" plans are not the same as major medical. The finder labels which is which.
A Small Group Plan
What it does: if you have even one employee or a working partner, a small group plan is sometimes an option, and it starts at two people. Group plans are quoted personally for your business.
What it does not: it is not individual coverage, and it is not one-size-fits-all.
A quick way to tell
Choose the Marketplace when
you have ongoing conditions or expensive prescriptions, you qualify for income-based savings, or you want the full ten essential benefits with no health questions asked.
Look at private plans when
you are generally healthy, you missed Open Enrollment with no qualifying event, you want to enroll and start quickly, or a Marketplace plan without subsidies is out of reach.
The honest answer: many households compare both and pick the one that fits this year, then re-check at renewal. That comparison is exactly what we do on the call.
What sits alongside your medical plan
Supplemental & Accident
What it does: pays cash benefits for accidents, hospital stays, or major health events so you have money when a medical bill hits.
What it does not: it is not a substitute for full major medical coverage.
Dental & Vision
What it does: helps with routine dental care like cleanings, exams, and basic care, plus eye exams, frames, and lenses.
What it does not: it does not act as medical insurance or pay for hospital stays.
Two things worth knowing
Are you paying too much now?
The "Am I overpaying?" check asks where your plan comes from first, because a subsidised premium or a payroll deduction is only part of the real price.
Taxes
There is usually a tax angle to health premiums when you work for yourself, and it turns on your own numbers rather than on insurance. Worth asking your tax preparer before open enrollment rather than after.
Want all three options compared for you?
Tell us a little about your work and household, and a licensed advisor lays the options side by side. There's no separate advisory fee for standard guidance.
*Plans, benefits, rates, and provider networks can change at any time. Speaking with your agent is necessary to verify the most up-to-date information before making any decision.