{"id":19533,"date":"2022-03-04T13:38:29","date_gmt":"2022-03-04T18:38:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepapergown.zocdoc.com\/?p=19533"},"modified":"2023-03-08T14:00:15","modified_gmt":"2023-03-08T19:00:15","slug":"a-guide-to-health-insurance-for-freelancers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/a-guide-to-health-insurance-for-freelancers\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Health Insurance for Freelancers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a freelance journalist, sometimes security can feel untouchable. Fortunately, when I first entered the industry, I was able to stay on my family&#8217;s health insurance. When I had to make the move off, at age 26, I found myself googling home remedies for various ailments. I simply didn\u2019t think I\u2019d be able to afford insurance on my own.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But after some consideration, I knew I had to make it work. Thus, my search for the best and most cost-effective health insurance as a freelancer, began.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2020, around <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/report-section\/ehbs-2020-summary-of-findings\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">157 million people<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> received employee-sponsored insurance. But the number of freelance workers has been on the rise in the US. From 2019, to 2020, the amount of gig workers in the US increased by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/assets-global.website-files.com\/603fea6471d9d8559d077603\/608824c4ca4dc41c8ca7eb7b_5f60b45c8ce868f32dbbe8ca_Freelance_Forward-2020-Infographic%20(1).pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8 percent<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Now, freelancers comprise 36 percent of the workforce. And to make matters more interesting, 58% of people who switched to remote work during the pandemic are considering making the switch to freelance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, finding an independent health plan can be really complicated and confusing. With the help of a rep from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/gaycenter.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LGBTQ Center<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a spot that offers support to LGBTQ+ population in Manhattan, I found<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a\u00a0 New York-based independent health plan. Hence, I\u2019ve overcome all the hurdles so you don\u2019t have to.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s what to do if you\u2019re a freelancer, or gig worker, and need health insurance in a pinch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr class=\"squiggle\" \/>\n<h3>What to know about timing<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While searching for health insurance as a gig worker, there are a few important dates to keep in mind. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthinsurance.org\/faqs\/what-are-the-deadlines-for-the-acas-open-enrollment-period\/#:~:text=Open%20enrollment%20for%202022%20ACA%2Dcompliant%20health%20insurance%20ran%20from,15%2C%202022%20in%20most%20states.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">yearly open enrollment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 the time period in which you can purchase a healthcare plan with or without a qualifying reason \u2014 is from November 1st to January 15th. (Check on your state\u2019s enrollment period, because some states, like California, New Jersey and New York, have an extended enrollment period.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, say you quit your 9-5 in June, and still, of course, want to find insurance. Don&#8217;t worry; You still can enroll in a plan after open enrollment closes. There are just some specific ways to qualify.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following open enrollment, health insurance is still available under <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthcare.gov\/have-job-based-coverage\/if-you-lose-job-based-coverage\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cspecial enrollment plans,\u201d<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These require proof of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthcare.gov\/coverage-outside-open-enrollment\/special-enrollment-period\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">extenuating circumstances<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which can include pregnancy, having or adopting a child or getting married. These also include losing coverage, from leaving a job, or moving.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re looking to make the shift from a full-time job to the gig economy, you\u2019d be revoking your employee-sponsored health plan. However, you\u2019ll still be able to qualify for a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthcare.gov\/glossary\/special-enrollment-period\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">special enrollment period<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; 60 days following the loss of your coverage, you can still enroll in a health insurance plan. And you can enroll in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthcare.gov\/glossary\/special-enrollment-period\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medicaid<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at any time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthcare.gov\/coverage-outside-open-enrollment\/special-enrollment-period\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">some pandemic exceptions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; In certain circumstances you can still enroll if you lost coverage more than sixty days ago. (Check out the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthcare.gov\/coverage-outside-open-enrollment\/special-enrollment-period\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">government\u2019s healthcare site<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for more info.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An alternative option for loss of coverage is opting into the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/general\/topic\/health-plans\/cobra\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COBRA<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which is a federal law that allows workers who have lost employee-sponsored health insurance coverage to continue to pay into that same insurance company for a period of time (usually <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/sites\/dolgov\/files\/ebsa\/about-ebsa\/our-activities\/resource-center\/faqs\/cobra-continuation-health-coverage-consumer.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">18 months post-employment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but it varies case to case).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The benefit of utilizing COBRA is you won\u2019t have to switch doctors or specialists who may not accept a new insurance plan. However, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebalance.com\/cobra-health-insurance-guide-pros-and-cons-4783686#:~:text=Cons%20Explained,of%20your%20premium%20under%20COBRA.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">paying for coverage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will cost much more than it did when you were an employee. If you elect to move forward with COBRA, once your designated time period comes to an end, you&#8217;ll get looped into the same special enrollment period mentioned above.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Your options<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insurance plans land in <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/v\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">three categories<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. Of the three different plans, bronze plans tend to have high deductibles with lower monthly costs. Each plan adjusts accordingly from there. For instance, gold and platinum policies require more out-of-pocket each month, but cover costs much quicker.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freelancersunion.org\/insurance\/health\/quiz\/nyc\/?zip_code=11205\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freelancers Union<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> notes that silver plans are the most popular choice for their members. Healthcare consultant Sarah Gravelin says that\u2019s likely because silver plans are the \u201cmiddle of the road,\u201d in terms of cost and deductibles.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medicaid is also a popular choice for freelancers because it\u2019s free, but it\u2019s only available to those who fall under a certain income bracket, which varies state-to-state. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general, what works for a freelancer who makes $100,000 a year may not work for a freelancer who makes $40,000. You can typically find the best plan for you by c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">omparing plans on a healthcare marketplace. (Read more on that below.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aside from costs, you should definitely consider your medical needs before making any commitments to a new plan. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For instance, if you have prescription drug needs, you\u2019ll want to check with the insurance provider\u2019s copayment policy. Some plans might only kick in at \u201cin-network pharmacies&#8221; \u2014 meaning they\u2019d cover costs at CVS, but perhaps not your local mom and pop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have a chronic illness, or have to take frequent visits to a specialist, choosing a plan with a lower deductible might be the better choice, so that the insurance company can start covering costs more quickly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most health plans do not include dental and vision components. You\u2019ll likely want to purchase these separately. Either way, vision and dental costs tend to be significantly less <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">than medical plans (some <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freelancersunion.org\/insurance\/vision\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">vision plans<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are as low as $13\/month, while some <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freelancersunion.org\/insurance\/dental\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dental plans<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> start at $25).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freelancers \u2014 especially writers and photographers \u2014\u00a0 spend a lot of time looking at a screen, making visual health crucial. On the other hand, doctors and dentists agree that there\u2019s a strong link between <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/can-bad-dental-habits-cause-heart-disease\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">oral and physical health<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, so dental insurance should be a strong consideration no matter your field.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Where to look<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For each state, where to look and where to enroll varies.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nationwide, <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/healthcare.gov\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">healthcare.gov<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.obamacare-plans.com\/?_ci=19668233&amp;_ai=&amp;_ap=&amp;_d=c;CQ0-3n1teJDpzIT3DJe2Z3Of47CyGNrRs9eC15gBCfPDtQY7d5NXcJ2ORW5WIpumYociogbNYqUol7g7c8m5io_YJRkQGA&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiArt6PBhCoARIsAMF5wajFPFqDLa0vx95oi0gDah9MDJkXXgI6KHsenWx0qvm283XybQP7kyEaAkVcEALw_wcB\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obamacare<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> site can provide options or make it easy to schedule a call with an insurance advisor who can walk you through the process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, many states recently began operating their own health insurance marketplaces in an effort to make the process easier. So if you live in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.coveredca.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">California<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/connectforhealthco.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Colorado<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.accesshealthct.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Connecticut<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dchealthlink.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">District of Columbia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yourhealthidaho.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Idaho<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/kynect.ky.gov\/s\/?language=en_US\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kentucky<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.coverme.gov\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maine<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marylandhealthconnection.gov\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maryland<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mahealthconnector.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Massachusetts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mnsure.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minnesota<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nevadahealthlink.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nevada<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nj.gov\/getcoverednj\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Jersey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bewellnm.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Mexico<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nystateofhealth.ny.gov\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New York<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pennie.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pennsylvania<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/healthsourceri.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rhode Island<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/portal.healthconnect.vermont.gov\/VTHBELand\/welcome.action\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vermont<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wahealthplanfinder.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Washington<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you should enroll on your state\u2019s marketplace website.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This also helps centralize plan options specific to your state or city. For instance, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.metroplus.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MetroPlus Health<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> serves only those living in New York City\u2019s boroughs, while coverage from a provider like Blue Cross Blue Shield is available in all 50 states.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To avoid any scams, Gravelin recommends going through your state\u2019s marketplace or healthcare.gov in order to ensure a plan is compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and therefore government regulated. \u201cWe\u2019ve been seeing a lot of \u2018associations\u2019 saying that they\u2019re for self-employed people, but it\u2019s a big gray area,\u201d Gravelin says. \u201cThese companies aren\u2019t regulated and a lot of them have gone under, leaving their customers with thousands of dollars in unsettled claims.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Gravelin says these companies typically reach out directly freelance workers, or appear in online searches of &#8220;the best insurance plans for freelancers.&#8221; Stay cautious and<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> always double check through healthcare.gov or your state\u2019s marketplace to make sure the insurance company is verified. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beyond that, any <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareinsider.com\/how-can-you-tell-obamacare-179116\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ACA-accredited plan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will have a metal in its plan\u2019s names (silver, bronze, gold, etc.).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In New York, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freelancersunion.org\/insurance\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Freelancers Union, <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">an advocacy group, is free to join. Its website also makes it easy to search for a healthcare plan. However, it doesn\u2019t include every insurance company available, only ones that are partners of the org.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re working in an industry where you\u2019re exposed to physical risk, you might want to invest in an additional disability plan as a safety cushion for any unforeseeable incidents that happen on the job. Many of these plans are short-term. You can find a options at<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifepreserve.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Life Preserve<\/span><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statefarm.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Farm<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.policygenius.com\/disability-insurance\/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_campaign=sem_google_disability_b:nb_disability-general_desktop_phrase&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_content=567563153257&amp;utm_term=disability%20insurance&amp;utm_location=9004338&amp;utm_device=c&amp;campaign_id=15492871365&amp;lptest=&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAr5iQBhCsARIsAPcwROOZrHXiUc-oudiAVAiznEiT5htef_B683x277NNs_GuPPYsfhg9l3AaAuRLEALw_wcB\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Policygenius.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many sectors of the gig economy can feel isolating, especially during a pandemic. Whether you\u2019re working from home, or spending most of the day alone in a delivery vehicle, you might be lacking some of the benefits of other types of work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hopefully with these tips, you can find a health plan that works for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When to enroll and where to find affordable options. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":19534,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[227],"tags":[78,81,56,93,83],"class_list":["post-19533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","tag-health-insurance","tag-preventive-care","tag-primary-care","tag-public-health","tag-wellness","reviewer-dr-nassim-assefi"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Health Insurance for Freelancers: A Guide to Finding the Best Fit<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Finding insurance as a freelancer or gig worker can be quite complicated. 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