How To Get Health Insurance When Self-Employed

Learn the types of health insurance for the self employed. The cost of health insurance premiums is directly tied to the type of coverage you want, your age and general health. The key cost difference between categories of health insurance for the self employed is the cost of premiums and the deductible. You can select full-service plans that cover doctor visits, prescriptions, hospital care, and laboratory tests. There are three types of plans commonly placed in this category – Preferred Provider Organization (PPOs), Point of Service (POS) and Health Maintenance Organization (HMOs) or network plans or limited catastrophic only coverage.

According to MedHealthInsurance, “A PPO is a group system of health care organized by an insurance company. Physicians, health care providers of all types, hospitals and clinics sign contracts with the PPO system to provide care to its insured people. These medical providers accept the PPO’s fee schedule and guidelines for its managed medical care.” This type of plan offers the self employed the most flexibility and control over their medical care. It is also the most expensive with monthly premiums ranging between $300 and $700, with some plans running as high as $1000 per month for individual coverage. 

The POS plan lets you select a primary care doctor from the ones on the approved insurer’s list. Your chosen doctor will direct your care including referral to specialists. In an HMO plan, doctors are employed directly by the organization and your care will be provided by that group of doctors. POS and HMO plans are less expensive than PPO plans.

Or, you can look at catastrophic coverage that provides hospital and emergency services sometimes only at specific or networked hospitals, but does not cover doctor visits or routine laboratory testing. The premiums for catastrophic coverage are lower than full service plans – ranging from $125 - $270 per month. Catastrophic coverage has high deductibles, from $500 to $5000. The deductible you choose determines the cost of your premiums.

In addition to basic health insurance, you can also select plans that offer dental insurance, vision insurance, chiropractic, and alternative medicine coverage. You can compare and contrast health insurance options for the self employed at several online websites. On E Health Insurance, for example, you can search by location and by provider to see options and costs. For people without many health-related constraints that live in most, but not all states, this site helps you compare policies offered through about 70 insurance providers.

Other points self employed persons need to consider about health insurance. Group plans may be less costly than individual coverage. There are self-employed organizations like NASE that offer health insurance plans for their members. Also, your professional organizations may have health plans available as part of your membership.

• Your state insurance regulatory agency is likely to have detailed information on plans available and approved to operate within your state.
• Health risk factors like smoking and obesity and pre-existing health conditions will affect your ability to get coverage, the cost of coverage, and the wait-time before coverage takes effect.
• Most plans offer optional family coverage for an additional cost.
• If you are generally young and healthy, you can apply online for health insurance without the necessity of a physical exam. You will be asked to provide information on health providers and health history that will be checked by the insurer as well as completing their detailed applications. If you need special consideration, you may want to work with a health insurance consultant or advisor who knows about the vagaries of many insurers in your state.