It doesn't apply to me now. I am considering going self employed and opening a small business and wanted to see how others handle their medical insurance as independent contractors.


It doesn't apply to me now. I am considering going self employed and opening a small business and wanted to see how others handle their medical insurance as independent contractors.
Last edited by Femme Fatale; 01-17-2019 at 01:42 PM.





Sadly, it's Obama care. The best plans I've seen are insanely expensive. The Bronze plans have lousy networks. There are some "short term" plans that cost a little less and have slightly better networks. But, they exclude things like contraception and pregnancy coverage. (Which may, or may not be right for you.) The Obama care plans and the short term plans are really just giving you coverage for very large losses. The deductibles are really around $5,000 and up. The networks are awful.
In contrast, my group insurance plan through my business costs me about $9,500 per year. For that, I get unlimited M.D. visits for $20 copay each, $50 copay in the ER, discounts on prescription drugs, Doc-in-a-box visits are $20 each. My deductible is $2,500 and I'm "in network" pretty much with every physician, hospital and emergency room within North Carolina and about 100 miles from our borders. Plus, I'm "in network" with a fair number of hospitals and physicians beyond NC. All the usual things are covered, including pregnancy, contraception, (though not fertility), mental health, and pre-existing conditions, provided I had health insurance within the 18 months of a diagnosis. (Not really a problem for me as I've been continuously insured since I was born.) If you can find a way to get healthcare coverage other than through Obama care or "short term" plans, I'd look into that.
HTH
Z





It actually isn't that bad. If you make an " average " amount based on your taxes , you can just buy insurance. I have for two years.





I don't have insurance & probably won't ever honestly. I was reading that this starting this year there will be no more penalties if you don't have it at tax time so I no longer worry about getting penalized for skipping out. I don't get sick often & don't see a point to pay out the ass for something that is not really needed. I usually try to just find free clinics where ever I'm at & go there & claim I don't work & have no income and I'm still treated without having to have any insuranceHas worked for years!
"Alot of people are afraid to say what they want, that's why they don't get what they want"~ Madonna
"Respect is a dying art"
"Philosophy is the talk on a cereal box"



I got sick and tired of paying 250-300+/month for health insurance with a 5k deductible, so this year, I opted out and just bought short-term, accident insurance. I've been travelling a huge amount this past year, so I also purchased traveling insurance specifically for that reason. I believe that travel insurance covers your medical emergency in the even that you get hurt while traveling. In my new state, I've also located a cheap clinic to go to for basic blookwork, check ups and STD testing. Last time I went to planned parenthood for STD testing, even with my net income as what I declared on taxes a year prior being pretty modest, I still had to shell out $400. It's insane, really. If you don't want to pay for health insurance, accident health insurance is not a bad bet and find a cheap local clinic for basic, preventative stuff. I would also make sure that your car insurance is comprehensive in case you get hurt during a crash.
I’m a bit late to this, but depending on which state you live in, there may be private options available to you that offer full coverage, optional added coverage, specialized advice, and larger (nationwide,) network availability with little to no out of pocket costs if you have the help of a professional to fully disclose the policy you’re signing up for. They do exist, and though it takes a little more legwork, the benefits are almost immediate and very much worth it on the back end. Oftentimes these companies won’t advertise, and obviously you have to be extremely careful with your information as individuals, but speaking on behalf of myself as a policy owner, parent, and agent myself, it’s worth 100% worth it.
Due to laws governing the respective companies’ compliance, and insurance as a whole, these companies ALSO cannot/won’t consider reaching out to certain demographics. While they aren’t affiliated with the ACA or the marketplace, they are heavily regulated; even the people they DO call are grouped into very specific and strictly monitored lists, both on a company and national level. I can’t get into specifics or names for these reasons. My company is one you probably haven’t heard of, but it utilizes one of the largest doctor/hospital networks and specializes in protecting self-employed people. However, most products are medically underwritten (like life insurance,) so it’s tough, but it ultimately translates into premiums that end up being considerably lower than what you’d find just plugging your information into a website that will give you limited results and put you on a million call lists. And being so selective means the coverage is more comprehensive and you’ll actually be protected. Companies like this have policies that are transparent and largely customizable: for example, you can elect to pay into just accident coverage, dental, wellness, etc.
The best companies right now for those of us in the unique spot of having no employer benefits and higher/varying income are the ones you haven’t heard of because they won’t market to you. It’s not ideal, and in this business the odds are stacked against you unless you have an agent directing you to the best actual coverage. Again, because of the laws involved, most of my clients are actually realtors. The umbrella of ‘independent contractor’ is obviously MUCH larger. I’m actually a 1099 as an agent, but myself, my husband, and our 2.5 year old daughter are on one of my plans.
I’m new here, referred by my sister who has been camming for almost a decade. She’s starting a policy in a few months once she’s kicked off our parents as a dependent, and while I’m relieved she’ll be protected, it’s still terrifying to me that she wouldn’t have coverage at all if I wasn’t there to counsel her, not even as a sister, but as an agent. It’s ridiculous, it really is, and I’m truly sorry to those stuck without protection or with expensive, partial protection having to deal with the stress and reality of being threatened constantly by the idea that they could lose it all over one issue that should’ve been accounted for.
I can’t change the laws or specifically help everyone. Legally, I can’t disclose much else either, but I can offer some guidance anytime if need be. We are only in 30 states, but I’d love to help either find an agent for anyone in need, give advice on websites that will ACTUALLY help (more than healthcare.gov,) other resources or tips for when you’re faced with a bill or a confusing policy, or a free quote with my own company if applicable. It sounds cliche, but settling for dicey short term plans or high premiums/deductibles/coinsurance in the marketplace, gambling with medishares, limited coverage in big groups, or NO coverage - all with NO HELP, is not the end all be all, JUST because you belong to a special income bracket or different profession than someone else. Feel free to message me for contact information.





Is there a secret handshake and passcode too?
If it is not part of employment group plans, then unless it is an association plan or one of the plethora of short-term catastrophic options springing up, then it is subject to all of the Obamacare requirements. So which is it?





I need insurance
MANY MEN WANTED TO LAY ME DOWN, BUT FEW WANTED TO LIFT ME UP
-Eartha Kitt



Catastrophic insurance. Shitty coverage but whatever...
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