Best Health Insurance for Self-Employed in 2024

Trying to find the best health insurance for self-employed, while still being affordable, isn’t easy. There are many choices but not all of them are within your budget. This can make it frustrating to figure out whether or not good health insurance coverage is worth breaking the bank.

So, how can you find good coverage when you’re on a budget? We have reviewed and researched several options to find you the best rates on self-employed health insurance.

Thanks to the health insurance marketplace, you can find and compare the best solutions to buy health insurance when self-employed. And the best part is, they are also budget-friendly.

6 Options For the Best Health Insurance for Self-Employed

Here are 6 great options for finding affordable health insurance for self-employed:

  1. eHealthInsurance
  2. Telemedicine Services
  3. Health Savings Account
  4. Secure Doctor Consultations
  5. Healthcare Sharing Ministry
  6. Organizations for the Self-Employed

1. eHealthInsurance

eHealthInsurance is one of the most affordable health insurance options for self-employed people. You can compare different health plans available for yourself or your family in the area you currently live.

After putting in my information in (Denver, CO, 2 adults), it gave me over 100 options and the cheapest price of about $198 a month.

If you’re in the pre-existing condition pool, no worries. Some states offer health plans through a high-risk pool.

Depending on the severity of the pre-existing condition, a regular insurance company may not automatically decline (although I’m sure the rates reflect it).

2. Telemedicine Services

A budget-friendly health insurance alternative that’s gaining popularity is Telemedicine services. Telemedicine services are just like they sound, it’s a medical service that allows you to speak to a qualified doctor via the telephone or video call.

You simply register as a patient and then provide your medical history to a popular telemedicine company. Whenever you have a small medical emergency or need to ask questions, you’ll be connected to a licensed doctor.

Then, depending on your specifics, they can make an educated diagnosis, provide treatment recommendations and even write a prescription if needed. They can also refer you to a primary care physician. And the best part is that they have access to all of your medical records, which helps them tailor their advice.

Since this service is all done over the phone, or virtually, the cost of a checkup or consultation is drastically reduced.

Companies Offering Telemedicine Services:

Obviously, each of these companies has its own set of pricing and perks, but the core benefit is the same. You can speak to a licensed doctor about any questions or illness you have, virtually at any time.

Using a telemedicine service could save you thousands of dollars on yearly medical visits and checkups, as well as prevent small medical issues from rapidly becoming worse.

3. Health Savings Account (HSA)

A Health Savings Account is an account that allows you to have much more self-control over health insurance and tax-free funds. Plus, you get a tax deduction for contributing to it.

An HSA is an account that’s linked to a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). It allows you and your family to pay for qualified medical expenses using a separate account.

Usually, you get a debit card with the account, so you can easily pay for everything from prescriptions, to LASIK eye surgery and other surgical procedures.

It’s an individually-owned account that could potentially save you 20-30% on your medical expenses. And the good news is, you own the account! The money you contribute to an HSA belongs to you and your family to do as you wish. The only rule is that you must spend it on qualified medical expenses to avoid paying taxes or a penalty.

Any interest earned on the funds is tax-deferred and any withdrawals from the account are tax-free when spent on approved medical expenses. No matter how long the money remains in the account, you’ll never lose it.

Unlike flexible spending accounts, any money you don’t use in your HSA will remain in your account from year to year, and continue to accrue interest until pay for medical expenses.

4. Secure Doctor Consultations

Consulting a doctor online about minor health issues can save you a ton of money. And not just on your medical bills but an online doctor consultation can save you money on the deductible for your health insurance.

Here’s How it Works: Using HealthTap’s secure website you can ask a certified doctor any of your health-related questions.

Within a few minutes, you’ll be connected to someone who can answer all your health questions and help you come up with a solution.

You can also get a second opinion and finally get the peace of mind you deserve! Plus, you’ll save both time and money on health insurance and health-related problems.

5. Healthcare Sharing Ministry

In the event that you have strong beliefs against government-sanctioned programs, then you should check out a healthcare sharing ministry. Even if you simply want to stop paying the ridiculous open market health insurance prices, a sharing program is a great alternative.

As a member of a healthcare sharing ministry, you get access to a “shared box”. This is where you contribute a monthly premium to help fund your, and other members’ health care costs.

You can also get dental and vision coverage discounts with healthshare caring ministries.

Companies Offering Healthshare:

6. Organizations for the Self-Employed

As a self-employed business owner, you may want to seek out other organizations or unions that can offer you budget-friendly plans and other perks.

Here’s a list of self-employed-specific organizations that can help you get affordable health insurance.

The National Associate for the Self-Employed

The National Associate for the Self-Employed (or NASE) is an organization that provides day-to-day support for the self-employed. Some member benefits give you access to Health Savings Accounts and life insurance policies.

Annual memberships cost $25 for students and a max of $120 for general members. The cost includes health insurance premiums, which vary based on state and your personal plan.

As a freelance business owner, you also get access to big savings at stores like Office Depot, LegalZoom, QuickBooks, TurboTax, and more.

The Freelancers Union

Depending on your state, the Freelancers Union also has excellent health insurance options, as well as loads of other benefits for members.

They group members together in order to keep costs much lower than on the individual market. (For example, 30% lower in NY.)

One of the main things that I like about The Freelancers Union is that it’s completely free to join and start browsing their resources, health insurance costs, and other insurance needs.

Simply enter your zip code on their website for group rates on health insurance.

National Association of Health Underwriters

The National Association of Health Underwriters (NASE) represents over 100,000 health insurance agents within the United States.

It directs you to local agents that will help find the best plan for your situation as a self-employed freelancer, all while promoting affordable health care.

In addition, you’ll get access to many of the same benefits and savings as you would with other organizations.

  • Business and marketing tools
  • Personal development and training
  • Client management apps
  • Wellness programs to help you gain access to many much-needed benefits

Finding The Best Self-Employed Health Insurance

The main point of all of this is that it REALLY depends on where you live and who you are covering. These resources should give you a good starting point for finding affordable health insurance coverage as a freelancer.

It will also keep your mind at ease knowing that you and your family are protected if a medical emergency arises. And you won’t have to pay a high penalty on your taxes next year!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *