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Health Insurance for the Self Employed in California
from: WiseWay.info
Are you your own boss? Being self employed means you are the only one responsible of taking good care of your health insurance plan. Being an individual payer is quite hard for most people. Don’t despair, California offers a lot of options on health insurance policies for the self employed.
There are affordable health insurance providers in California; all you have to do is a little research.
What are the basic options for the self employed in California? There are three options for you:
1. Spouse coverage. You are automatically covered in your spouse’ health insurance coverage, being a legal dependent.
2. Group health insurance. This is less expensive, and insurance companies can’t turn down your just because of health problems.
3. Individual health insurance. This type of plan is rather expensive and you should not have a pre-existing medical condition. Your health condition is a critical factor for the acceptance of your application.
After you have chosen what option to take, the next question would be ‘is it affordable?’
There are also ways to reduce or minimize health insurance costs. Here are some of them:
- The level of coverage should be reduced. If you don’t have health conditions and you visit your doctor once a year for annual examinations, you can cut coverage for prescriptions and office visits.
- Go for a higher deductible. If you’re a healthy person, living a healthy lifestyle, doesn’t visit the doctor very often and won’t need expensive medications, increase your deductible. This can save you on premium costs.
- Make annual premium payments. If you can afford to do so, then do it. Prepayment discounts are also offered by health insurance companies.
- You can join associations. Check with your local associations or institutions, they usually have access or they offer discounted health insurance. You can check with the following:
1. National Association for the Self Employed
2. American Association of Home-based Businesses
3. Home Office Association of America
4. National Business Association
- You can shop online. Get your fingers working, there are a lot of health insurance providers in the internet. Do a research.
- Medical savings accounts or the MSA’s. Under the HIPAA or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, self employed are eligible for MSA’s.
- Self employed health insurance deduction.
The abovementioned options and choices offered for the self employed are good, but only if you’re able to get a health insurance. But how about in cases where you have a pre-existing condition?
There are certain risk pools for self employed individuals who are unable to get insurance.
These risk pools are known as high-risk health insurance plans. These are state funded plans which acts as a safety net for people denied by health insurance companies because of their medical conditions.
For eligibility purposes, you must prove at least one among the list below:
1. you’ve been rejected by at least one health insurance provider
2. you are presently insured with a much higher premium
3. you are currently insured with a rated policy or a rider
You are not eligible if;
1. you are not a local resident of the state where you applied
2. you are eligible for Medicaid or Medicare
3. you have terminated your previous coverage unless 132 months have elapsed ever since
4. being an inmate of a public institution
Health-care savings programs are designed to minimize out-of-the-pocket health care expenses. This is also known as patient advocacy program.
Being self employed is no excuse for not having a health insurance. Remember that you’re the greatest asset of your business.
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