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Last Updated on April 25, 2024 by Work In My Pajamas
The following is a guest post written by Paula Ballard on behalf of
Viamedic.
For many people, the freedom to work from home also comes at a disadvantage: the lack of health insurance coverage. Self-employed workers are unable to tap into an employer’s plan, which can leave them at risk for accruing large medical bills. In addition, those who work for themselves usually do not have protection against a loss of income should they become ill or temporarily disabled. When these factors are considered, it makes the need to find good health insurance coverage extremely important.
When deciding what type of coverage is needed, it can be a good idea to consider what types of prescription medications are taken and if there are any pre-existing conditions. That way, an individual can find a plan that will cover these essentials while still providing for routine health exams or doctor’s visits for minor illnesses. Many self-employed workers are surprised to find out that the same agent who insures his home or business may also be able to sell health insurance plans. Whenever possible, it is best to discuss plans in person, as it could be difficult to obtain accurate information from online sources.
The Interview
Prepare for your meeting with a health insurance representative much like you would for any other sales meeting. Have a goal in mind as far as the type of coverage you would like and the amount of deductible you can afford to pay. If you have a medical condition that requires maintenance drugs, it can be a good idea to have a list of these medications so you can find out if a plan covers these prescriptions and what the co-pay for each one is. It is also a good idea to find out if you will be assessed a penalty for age, smoking, or previous surgeries. Make a list of questions to ask the agent so you can remember to stay focused rather than being swayed by persuasive sales tactics.
Research and Compare
Unfortunately, not all health insurance companies are trustworthy. If you are self-employed, you are already at a disadvantage when it comes to knowing an insurer’s reputation, because you cannot rely on co-workers to keep you updated on unscrupulous practices used by a company. This means you must do some diligent research yourself in order to find out if a company is reliable.
One way to do this is by checking with your state board of insurance to see if there have been any claims against the company recently. You can also do research online to see if other individuals have had problems with filing claims or having their policies cancelled. Medical practitioners can also be a good source of information, as they normally deal with a variety of insurance companies and can recommend certain ones to avoid.
Finding health insurance when you are self-employed can be a struggle, but worth it in the long run. This is because you are more in control of your choices and do not have to accept the plan you are offered. If you are a non-smoker who is in generally good health, this could even be cheaper than an employer-provided plan is.