Are you self-employed or a contractor in need of health insurance coverage? If so, you may be wondering what options are available to you and your family. Fortunately, there are a number of programs and plans that can help you get the coverage you need. One option is a Short-Term Medical (STM) plan. These plans are not required to cover the essential health benefits of the ACA, but they can provide a cost-effective solution for those who need temporary coverage.
Another option is Medicaid. This is an insurance program that provides free or low-cost medical coverage to certain individuals, families and children with low incomes, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. You can also find health insurance through one of several possible avenues as an independent contractor, self-employed person or consultant. Your premium will depend on factors such as your age, location, smoking status, minimum income level, whether you enroll just for yourself or your family, and if you qualify for the premium tax credit.
In addition to traditional health insurance plans, BCBS offers short-term coverage and comprehensive health insurance for contractors and individuals traveling abroad. An insurance program called CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) provides low-cost health coverage to children from families that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to buy private insurance. If you have only one employee other than yourself, you may be able to opt for group health insurance for small businesses. This works well for people who are responsible for insuring their employees as well as themselves.
The Health Insurance Marketplace is a service run by the federal government that helps people compare health insurance plans and enroll in them. It is important to note that adults receive health insurance through their employers; however, this agreement may be declining due to rising health care costs. Whether you're working for hire, self-employed, self-employed, or simply self-employed, it's likely that at some point you'll have to go through the process of enrolling in health insurance coverage independently. Short-term policies are often less expensive than the comprehensive medical plans offered by private insurers and government exchanges. It is important to remember that people without health insurance tend to make important decisions about health care based on money and often face worse health outcomes as a result. Additionally, employers cannot subsidize coverage for dependents under the group health insurance plan which could make coverage expensive.
