Individual and family
Self-employed health
Coverage built for 1099 income: variable earnings, no HR department, and a tax deduction most people underuse.
- Who it suits
- Individuals
- Carriers shopped
- The whole panel
- Cost to you
- $0
Overview
What this line actually does
Self-employed households have the hardest version of this problem. Income is lumpy, there is no payroll deduction, nobody hands you a benefits guide in November, and the plan you choose interacts with your tax return in ways a W-2 employee never has to think about.
Most self-employed people end up on a Marketplace plan with an advance premium tax credit, and the self-employed health insurance deduction on top. Some, particularly owners with one or two employees, do better with a small group plan. A few with high deductibles do well pairing an HSA-qualified plan with real HSA contributions.
We do not pretend there is one right answer. We model the two or three that actually apply to you and show the annual numbers side by side.
How it works
From first call to in force
Map the income
Last year's return, this year's run rate, and how variable it really is.
Test both paths
Marketplace with a subsidy, or a small group plan if you have employees.
Add the tax layer
Self-employed deduction, HSA contributions and how they interact with the subsidy.
Choose and enroll
Open Enrollment or a qualifying event, with the network checked against your providers.
Check in quarterly
A short income check each quarter keeps the subsidy accurate and avoids reconciliation.
What moves the number
Cost factors
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Income variability | A subsidy based on a January estimate needs revisiting when a big contract lands in June. |
| Employees on payroll | Even one W-2 employee can open small group options that are unavailable to a sole proprietor. |
| HSA eligibility | Only an HSA-qualified high-deductible plan permits contributions, and the limits differ for self-only and family. |
| Spouse coverage | If a spouse has an employer offer, affordability rules affect whether your household can use subsidies. |
| Dental and vision | These are rarely worth buying through the exchange for a household of one or two. Standalone is usually cheaper. |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
Related lines
Often looked at alongside this
Before you decide
Self-employed questions we hear most
If your question is not here, call the desk. Nobody will put you on a list for asking.
Self-employed people with net profit may be able to deduct health insurance premiums for themselves and their family above the line, subject to limits. Your accountant should confirm how it applies to your return.
Health care sharing ministries are not insurance, are not regulated as insurance, and carry no guarantee of payment. We do not place them. We will explain what you would be giving up if you are considering one.
Tell us. A single W-2 employee can change which market you belong in, and hiring mid-year can create a Special Enrollment Period for the household.
Update your Marketplace application as soon as you know. Adjusting the advance credit going forward is far less painful than reconciling the whole year in April.
Bring us the file. We will bring the market.
Send a census or ask one question. Either way it costs you nothing and nobody will chase you.
Independent and multi-carrier. $0 cost to work with us. No pressure scripts.