Before you buy self employed health insurance, make sure you know what kind of coverages you need. If you’ve always held a 9-5 job, and you’re becoming self employed for the first time, health insurance is probably a particular worry for you right now. When you’re self employed, paying for health insurance is no longer as easy as signing a form and allowing payments to be deducted from your paychecks. You’re suddenly faced with trying to find cheap health insurance on your own. What you need to know before you buy self employed health insurance:
You need to decide what kind of health insurance coverages you want before you buy. Do you have a family? Do you want to visit any doctor you want, or are you willing to stay in a network of doctors for treatment? Do you have regular prescriptions that need to be filled? Answers to these sorts of questions can help you determine what sort of health insurance coverages you need.
Self employed health insurance has options for low deductibles, discount prescriptions and affordable co-payments for doctor’s office and emergency room visits. This kind of health insurance isn’t cheap. But, this sort of self employed medical plan gives you the same sort of health insurance coverage that you’d expect from an employer.
You may also decide that you only want the cheaper “catastrophe” or major medical health insurance. These health insurance policies offer coverage for extended hospital stays only. Prescriptions and visits to the doctor’s office are not included, and deductibles are usually fairly high. It makes the health insurance policy inexpensive, because you’re releasing the health insurance carrier from a lot of risk. Catastrophe insurance can be a good option for someone who is single and in generally good health.
When you’re trying to find unemployed or self employed medical insurance, you might find that you’re eligible for COBRA. COBRA health insurance is available to people who had employer-sponsored health insurance coverage but left their job. You must notify your employer within 60 days of leaving your job that you want to use this type of self employed medical insurance. COBRA is available for you and your family for 18 months after you leave your job. COBRA is not inexpensive - this type of health insurance can really set you back, as you pay for the full cost of insurance. If you’re looking for cheap health insurance, this won’t be the best option for you.
Get more helpful tips for paying for your medical expenses when you’re self employed. And find out how to save on prescription drug costs and decrease your insurance premiums.
Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences with finding cheap health insurance.