Health coverage when you work for yourself
If you are self-employed, there is no employer sharing your premium or narrowing your choices for you. You are shopping the same broad categories as any individual buyer, but your income can vary month to month, and your coverage decision interacts with how your business is structured.
Who commonly considers it
- Freelancers and independent contractors
- Consultants and single-member businesses
- Owner-operators with no employees
- People leaving a job to start a business
Potential advantages
- You control the plan structure and can align it to how you actually use care
- Coverage is not tied to a single client or contract
- Some self-employed people may be able to treat premiums favorably at tax time — confirm with your tax professional
Important considerations
- Variable income makes premium predictability more important
- You absorb the full cost of a high-use year yourself, so out-of-pocket exposure matters
- Financial help through the Marketplace, if any, depends on estimated income and other factors
Questions worth asking
- How much monthly premium is genuinely sustainable in a slower month?
- What could I owe in a year where I use significantly more care?
- Do I need network flexibility for travel or multi-state work?
- How does this decision interact with my business structure and taxes?
How Dave helps
Dave works through the premium-versus-exposure tradeoff with you rather than pushing the cheapest monthly number, and explains which questions belong with your accountant rather than your broker.
Related reading
Plan availability, eligibility, benefits, exclusions, underwriting requirements, enrollment periods and coverage vary by carrier, product and state.