Affordable Health Insurance - Health Insurance For The Self Employed


One of the things that is important to consider when you leave corporate America for the freedom of your own business is affordable health insurance. In fact, the reason most often cited for NOT taking the plunge into self-employment is the lack of cheap health insurance alternatives for people who are not employed by a company that can offer more affordable rates on health insurance through a group health insurance plan.

If you do decide to brave it and be your own boss, there are many places where you can cut corners. Letting yourself or your family go without health insurance isn't one of them. Here are some common options that can make health insurance affordable if you're a self-employed entrepreneur or crafter.

Coverage under a Spouse's Plan

By far the most common option is to cover the family for health insurance through a spouse's employer. As long as one member of the couple is working for a company that has a group health insurance plan, it's usually the cheapest option for insuring the entire family.

COBRA

COBRA is an option for the beginning of your self-employment. For the first several months after you leave your job, your employer is required by law to give you the option of retaining membership in their health insurance plan. You will have to cover the entire monthly premium paid by your company rather than the amount that you're used to paying as an employee when your employer was covering part of the cost. The true cost of that insurance can come as a shock to you - a family health insurance through a group can easily cost close to $1000 a month. It's still more affordable than most plans that you can purchase as an individual. It's also only temporary, so you should be looking for other health insurance options while you're still covered.

A Health Insurance Cooperative with Other Self-employed and Small Business Owners

There are national and local organizations of self-employed workers who have banded together to combine their buying power and get affordable health insurance premiums through group policies. You can find more information about groups in your area through the National Association for the Self Employed (www.nase.org) or the American Association of Home-Based Businesses (www.aahbb.org).

Group Health Insurance for the Self-Employed

In many states like Maine, health insurance companies offer affordable group policies for groups of one. You may have to shop around to find a company that does, but there are benefits other than being a cheaper policy. The most important of these is that they MUST cover everyone in the group, regardless of health conditions. This is important for someone who may have been turned down for an individual health insurance policy because of health.

No matter what, it is vital that you insure yourself and your family against the possibility of illness or accident. There are cheap alternatives to individual health insurance plans for the self-employed.

To view our recommended sources for health insurance, or to read more articles about health insurance, visit: Recommended Health Insurance Companies Online.

Carrie Reeder is the owner of eZerk, an informational website with articles and the latest news about various topics.







Related News



Insurance Professionals See Investor Confidence of Retirement ... - MarketWatch

Insurance Professionals See Investor Confidence of Retirement ...
MarketWatch -8 hours ago
The survey of more than 300 insurance industry professionals was conducted via instant electronic polling. Chief among the survey findings are: "A central ...

CORRECTED: Insurance chief says AIG bailout was unavoidable - Reuters

Boston Globe

CORRECTED: Insurance chief says AIG bailout was unavoidable
Reuters -21 hours ago
N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) after a dramatic investor crisis left the giant insurer starved for cash, New York insurance chief Eric Dinallo ...
Crisis strengthens Manulife's hand in AIG bidGlobe and Mail
HSBC Life Launches Online Insurance Sales In TaiwanEasyBourse.com
Insurance giant granted lifelineThe Press Association
Royal Gazette - Belfast Telegraph
all 972 news articles

Insurance Exchange Is a Good Idea - New York Times

Voice of America

Insurance Exchange Is a Good Idea
New York Times, United States -3 hours ago
By Ezekiel Emanuel In this installment of Health Care Watch, Stuart M. Butler and Ezekiel Emanuel talk about what the candidates are saying about insurance...
Editors: Healthy Line of AttackNational Review Online
National panelists debate health careBizjournals.com
Two Ways to Extend Health InsuranceKiplinger.com
Dallas Morning News - Wall Street Journal
all 1,409 news articles

FDIC approves bank fee increase for insurance fund - BusinessWeek

TopNews

FDIC approves bank fee increase for insurance fund
BusinessWeek -5 hours ago
Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Sheila Bair made the proposal -- which will raise the average insurance premiums paid by banks and thrifts to 13.5 ...
FDIC Proposes Doubling Fees to Boost Insurance Fund (Update3)Bloomberg
FDIC chair seeks higher bank fees to boost deposit insurance fund ...International Herald Tribune
Ahead of the Bell: FDIC mulls bank insurance feesForbes
Los Angeles Times - Wall Street Journal Blogs
all 1,357 news articles

SeaBright Insurance Holdings to Release 2008 Third Quarter Results ... - WELT ONLINE

SeaBright Insurance Holdings to Release 2008 Third Quarter Results ...
WELT ONLINE, Germany -2 hours ago
SeaBright Insurance Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:SEAB) announced today that it plans to release financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008, ...

Gina Russo Opens Trenchant Insurance in Las Vegas - MarketWatch

Gina Russo Opens Trenchant Insurance in Las Vegas
MarketWatch -9 hours ago
LAS VEGAS, Oct 07, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Gina Russo opened the Trenchant Insurance Company at 8778 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite 105 in Las Vegas. ...

Group still owns Fortis Insurance - Malaysia Star

The Associated Press

Group still owns Fortis Insurance
Malaysia Star, Malaysia -Oct 6, 2008
PETALING JAYA: Fortis Group has confirmed its continued ownership of 100% participation in Fortis Insurance International NV, following the recent ...
Ping An to post huge losses due to investment in FortisPress Trust of India
China's Ping An Insurance to book 15.7 bln yuan loss from Fortis ...Forbes
Ping An may lose 2b yuan on Fortis investmentChina Daily
Financial Times - The Associated Press
all 194 news articles

Bailout measure gives parity to mental health insurance coverage - Kansas City Star

The Money Times

Bailout measure gives parity to mental health insurance coverage
Kansas City Star, MO -19 hours ago
Tucked inside the lengthy legislation is a requirement that insurance plans provide coverage for mental illnesses and addiction disorders equal to what they ...
Bailout may bring relief for parents of mentally ill kidsRocky Mountain News
US Insurers Told to Cover Mental Health EquallyOneWorld.net
New bill mandates better insurance coverageTimes-Journal
MinnPost.com - Dayton Daily News
all 871 news articles


Singapore Insurance Report Q3 2008 Is Available Now - MarketWatch

Singapore Insurance Report Q3 2008 Is Available Now
MarketWatch -7 hours ago
Our Singapore Insurance Report provides independent forecasts and competitive intelligence on Singapore's insurance industry. In Q308, the key change is ...
Research and Markets: Slovenia Insurance Report Q3 2008 - In 2007 ...MarketWatch
all 36 news articles

Narragansett Bay Insurance Company Succeeds to Adirondack ... - MarketWatch

Narragansett Bay Insurance Company Succeeds to Adirondack ...
MarketWatch -9 hours ago
PAWTUCKET, RI, Oct 07, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Narragansett Bay Insurance Company announced that it has entered into a renewal rights agreement with ...
Renewal Rights Agreement Bolsters Narragansett Bay in New YorkInsurance Journal
all 8 news articles