Affordable health insurance plans for the self employed are available. Regardless whether you need coverage for just yourself and your family, or a small business, low-cost policies can be easily purchased. Pre-existing conditions are covered, and a federal tax subsidy can substantially reduce your premium (if you meet eligibility requirements). The ACA Legislation provides assistance to freelancers that work for themselves, and are responsible for paying their own medical plan premiums.
Sole Proprietorships are very common (millions of persons in the US) and many types of healthcare benefits are widely available. Whether you have no employees, or 20 persons working for you, you still must purchase coverage, although small business requirements were temporarily postponed. Part of our expertise (more than 38 years of experience) is finding the new plans that will cost you the least, but still provide "essential" benefits. NOTE: If you own or operate a business with no employees, the Department of Health and Human Services classifies you as "self-employed."
HSA plans should always be considered, since they offer a choice of several deductibles, tax-favored deposits to pay qualified expenses, and lower premiums. Several deductible options are offered, and deposited funds can be invested conservatively or aggressively. All family members are covered and substantial negotiated network discounts can save a substantial amount of money.
A major advantage of working for yourself (as opposed to owning a small business) is that you are eligible for potentially large federal tax subsidies to help pay your (and your family) medical insurance premiums. Since this assistance is in the form of an instant tax-credit, you don't have to wait months to receive the money, and your healthcare premiums can immediately reduce. This allows you to afford lower deductibles and smaller out-of-pocket expenses. Also available is a self-employed health insurance deduction on 100% of premiums.
Avoidance of the "SHOP" (Small Business Health Options Program) Exchanges (see below) saves time, money, confusion, and simplifies the process of comparing, choosing and enrolling for a plan. However, Shop has certain advantages, including no Open Enrollment deadlines, and provider networks are generally quite robust. And since plans are offered throughout the year, coverage can be obtained very quickly, without waiting until January 1. The tax credit is the most generous to companies with less than 10 workers and if the average annual compensation is less than $25,000. To obtain the credit, you must purchase a SHOP plan.
SHOP is a viable option if you have less than 50 full-time employees. Non-profit entities are eligible and enrollment takes place throughout the year (unlike the Marketplace). Employees can also enroll online and pay premiums on their coverage. As the owner of the company, you choose the percentage of worker's costs that you pay. NOTE: If you have no employees, you can not utilize this program.
Premium Tax Credit Examples
The available credits are instantly applied to premiums. However, depending on the total Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), the amount of the subsidy could pay most or all of the cost of coverage, or pay a very small or perhaps no part of the rate. The relationship of the household income to the Federal Poverty Limit guidelines will determine the amount of the subsidy.
Shown below are several examples of estimated credits derived from the total household income. Amounts shown are monthly and can be instantly deducted from the premium. The subsidy is NOT taxable to self-employed persons or small business owners. Note: It is possible that children in a household may qualify for CHIP benefits.
30 year-old in Harris County, Texas. Household income is $20,000. Federal subsidy is $268.
30 year-old in Franklin County, Ohio. Household income is $20,000. Federal subsidy is $261.
40 year-old in Chatham County, Georgia. Household income is $25,000. Federal subsidy is $316.
55 year-old in Chatham County, Georgia. Household income is $35,000. Federal subsidy is $520
35 year-old married couple in Franklin County, Ohio. Household income is $40,000. Federal subsidy is $465.
40 year-old married couple in Putnam County, Indiana. Household income is $40,000. Federal subsidy is $418.
40 year-old married couple in Dauphin County, Pa. Household income is $50,000. Federal subsidy is $723.
40 year-old married couple in Fulton County, Georgia. Household income is $50,000. Federal subsidy is $469.
40 year-old married couple in Putnam County, Indiana. Household income is $50,000. Federal subsidy is $343.
Tax Ramifications Of Subsidy
It's important to understand that any Obamacare subsidy you receive is not considered taxable income. There is no 1099 federal tax form that will be issued as a result of your premium reductions. These credits are best used to immediately offset healthcare premiums although you can wait until you file your federal return (which we don't recommend). Also, you do not have to utilize the entire credit. If you choose a lower amount than you are entitled to, when you file your federal tax return the following year, you will receive the difference.
Conversely, if you overestimate your income, you may be entitled to a refund. Rebate reimbursements from insurers (if they did not meet the requirements to limit expenses) may also generate a taxable event. That reimbursement may have to be reported as taxable income in the year you receive it. However, beginning five years ago, rebates were not reported by any of the carriers. Additional information is provided by the Self-Employed Individuals Tax Center, which reviews many issues including opening and closing a business, paying taxes, and the home office deduction.
NOTE: If you receive a subsidy, you are required to complete IRS Form 8962 (Premium Tax Credit) the following year. This form will generate a refund if you didn't use the entire credit, and will also deduct any over-payments you received as a result of underestimating your household income. It's extremely important to update your projected household earnings each year. Changes in employment or the number of household members can impact the amount of the subsidy. Any person that becomes eligible for Medicare or Medicaid is no longer eligible for tax credits.
What Is The Cheapest Plan?
Affordable Business-Owner Healthcare Is Available
Important components of the ACA legislation are "Metal" plans. All policies are placed into four categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. Platinum plans are the most costly policy since they are expected to cover 90% of projected medical expenses. The cheapest policy is the Bronze plan, which is expected to cover approximately 60% of projected medical expenses. A special "Catastrophic" tier is provided for persons under age 30. However, federal subsidies are not applicable to this tier, and specialist visits and non-generic prescriptions are often subject to large deductibles. Also, in many situations, a Silver-tier or Bronze-tier plan is more cost-efficient.
The maximum out-of-pocket expense for an individual is $7,900 per year, which increased from $7,350. The family maximum is $15,800. For QHDHP (Qualified High Deductible Health Plan) plans, the maximums are $6,750, and $13,500. Maximum annual HSA contributions are $3,500 for single plans, and $7,000 for family coverage. Non-grandfathered contracts must adhere to these guidelines. However, policies that are grandfathered (issued before April of 2010) do not have to meet these guidelines, if still in-force. Most grandfathered contracts are no longer active
Of course, your actual expenses could be substantially less, if there are no major medical claims and/or a relatively low number of symptomatic claims such as colds, the flu, and viruses. If you or a family member develops a serious chronic illness, you can switch to a different plan with lower out-of-pocket expenses (Gold, for example) during Open Enrollment each year. For 2020, the OE period begins on November 1st, although the dates can change each year. NOTE: Medigap Open Enrollment typically begins earlier than OE for persons under age 65.
The Senior OE period begins on October 7th and ends on December 15th. Seniors who reach age 65 also have a seven-month window to select a Medigap plan. There is no obligation to select a plan and many consumers are provided benefits through a prior employer. Medicare/Medicaid options are available, if needed. It is possible that one spouse will qualify for Medicare, while another spouse qualifies for Marketplace coverage.
All preventive benefits for you or any other person named on the Bronze-type (and all others) policy are covered at 100%. For example, annual physicals, mammograms, children's well check exams and adult PAP tests will have no out of pocket expense to you. For females, cervical cancer screening is covered along with contraception, well-woman visits and osteoporosis testing (if over age 60). Thus, if you had no medical issues and were mainly concerned with catastrophic and preventative features only, the Bronze option (along with Silver-tier contracts) should be considered.
Many of the Exchange plans are HSA-eligible, which allows you to take advantage of tax-deductions for qualified medical, dental and vision expenditures. We wrote about the best available HSA plans, and endorse this type of coverage if you are concerned with reducing your premium while maintaining prominent benefits. If a serious chronic condition develops, you can change to a more cost-effective option effective January 1. When you become eligible for Medicare, although you can not make tax-deductible deposits into the account, you can use accumulated funds to pay out-of-pocket expenses.
Will The Government Help The Self-Employed?
Yes. For example, if your income is below 133% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), you may be eligible for Medicaid, which will pay for most/all of your healthcare expenses. Each state has the choice of expanding Medicaid eligibility (from the current 100% of FPL) and the map below (provided by the Kaiser Foundation) provides a current status. As of 2018, more than 30 states had expanded Medicaid with a few more states actively discussing the possibility.
Medicaid Expansion By State -- Updated 2016
Even if you're not considered "low income," the government can still help. Also, you are no longer taxed ($695 per person/ $347.50 per child, or 2.5% of your income, whichever is greater), if qualified coverage is not purchased. Non-compliant plans can be purchased with no additional tax. Previously, if you secured a policy during the year, the penalty was pro-rated. $2,085 was the maximum penalty for a family, and generally, the first three months of not having coverage, were not counted in the tax.
In the following scenarios, we have illustrated the significant reduction in premiums you may qualify for. We assumed a household with a husband, wife, (ages 35-50) and one child, residing in Franklin County in Columbus, Ohio. Costs and subsidies shown are monthly amounts. The subsidy has already been deducted from premium, and the least-expensive Bronze-tier plan was chosen.
Age Income Healthcare Cost Federal Subsidy
35 $50,000 $706 $631
45 $45,000 $671 $636
45 $60,000 $804 $623
50 $60,000 $955 $829
50 $75,000 $955 $689
In all of the scenarios, a substantial amount of the health insurance premium is paid by the federal subsidy, including a whopping 65% for the 45 year-old (and family) with $45,000 of family income. Naturally, the older you are and the less money you make, the greater your subsidy. Also, households with children that are listed as dependents on your federal tax return will also qualify for much higher subsidies. NOTE: In these examples, adding a second child would result in Medicaid (CHIP) eligibility for the children, and lower the premium and subsidy. The cost of Medicaid benefits are extremely low, although the number of available Network providers will be less than what is offered through a large carrier. CHIP benefits are very comprehensive, and feature low premiums for young dependent children.
It's also important to understand that we based these projections on the purchase of the cheapest available "Silver" plan. This specific policy is designed to pay an estimated 70% of your anticipated medical expenses. Thus, if $3,000 is the average amount of expected expenses, your portion would be $900. Of course, your out-of-pocket cost could be substantially less if you have a healthy year. Your copay for specialists, the ER, and Urgent Care facilities can greatly impact your potential out-of-pocket expenses. Also, carriers often exit and re-enter specific state markets. It is possible your plan may no longer be offered at the Jan 1 effective date. If this occurs, typically, you are provided 60-120 days before the termination date (or earlier).
Silver plans are also one of the most offered options, since companies must include this type of policy in their portfolio if they are participating in the Exchange. They are also considered "benchmark" plans since the amount of the initial federal subsidy is often calculated on on Silver options, regardless if you chose a Platinum, Gold or Bronze plan. However, benefits (other than deductibles/copays) are the same for the four Metal plans. Out-of-pocket costs can vary greatly for Tier 3, 4, and 5 prescription drugs.
Key Fact: If the household income is less than 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), special "cost-sharing" can be applied to the policy. This feature (unique to Silver-tier) can reduce a deductible by thousands of dollars and potentially save $5,000 per year (or more). If you qualify for this option, all Silver-tier contracts should be considered. In many situations, they will provide lower premiums AND lower out-of-pocket costs than Gold-tier plans. For self-employed persons, the savings from lower copays, deductibles, and maximum out-of-pocket expenses can be thousands of dollars each year.
If You Are Young And Healthy, A Cheap Catastrophic Plan Should Be Considered
Young, Healthy, And Self-Employed?
A special and envious situation is if you own your own successful business, and you're young and healthy. Do you really need medical coverage? Although the likelihood of utilizing the coverage is fairly low, the risk still exists that a major illness or disease could cost thousands of dollars (or hundreds of thousands). This is not a risk that you should take lightly, even though the 2.5% non-compliance tax has been eliminated. Securing basic major medical coverage is critical, even if it results in purchasing a 12-month short-term plan (non-compliant). The alternative of having no coverage can result in tremendous financial obligations.
An affordable and popular solution is to consider purchasing an "off-Exchange" policy from one of the major companies. Although you will not receive a subsidy, it is not a concern since you may not be eligible because of your high income. Selecting a high-deductible plan will provide cheap catastrophic benefits from a reputable and reliable company, and preserve your estate and assets if you were to incur tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars of medical bills. In many states, selected carriers offer non-subsidized plans, but not Marketplace plans. Often, carriers offer non-Exchange options that are not offered through the Marketplace.
Cheap health insurance for the self-employed can still be found. We shop all of the available options so you can spend less time worrying about your medical benefits, and can concentrate on growing your business and enjoying your free time. If you hire part-time or full-time employees, we assist in finding your workers affordable medical benefits. Small group plans are offered by most major companies.
PAST UPDATES:
As you prepare to file your federal tax return, if you enrolled in an Exchange plan, you'll need an additional form this year -- the 1095-A, which is the Health Insurance Marketplace Supplement. The expected arrival date is before February 1, and your return can not be processed without it. Copies can be downloaded online or picked up at any IRS office.
This new form provides information regarding the premiums you paid throughout the year and the federal subsidies you received that were credited towards the payments. Since the same information is reported to the Internal Revenue Service, it's important that the information you provide is identical to IRS documents. There is a publication (#5187) that helps explain some of the process.
Rates will be published shortly. Although prices will be increasing on the majority of plans in all states, the projected hikes are typically 3%-8%. However, there are several notable exceptions of 20%-35%. There is good news for self-employed households since popular HSA plan rates are not expected to substantially increase. In many states, there is little or no change from last year's pricing. However, maximum contribution amounts and minimum allowed deductibles are changing.
Despite several recent tax code changes, health insurance premiums still may be able to be deducted on line 29 of Form 1040. However, your business must be profitable on Schedule C.
Business owners and self-employed professionals may need to prepare for sharp rate hikes for 2018. Although prices are not yet published, in many areas, increases of 10%-20% are expected for healthcare premiums. Increasing the deductible and out-of-pocket cost maximums can help lessen the increases. Also, if Congress can agree on a plan to either tweak or change the Affordable Care Act legislation, 2020 numbers may be more favorable.