Health insurance is available in New York state for self-employed individuals and their families.
If you are self employed, finding quality health care coverage can be a challenge. For those living in New York State, there are several options available through state and private sources that can provide good coverage for you and your family. Depending on your income and where you live in New York, you may qualify for a level of subsidized health care. Other options are available for individuals with income too high to qualify for these programs.
Income-based Insurance Plans
There are several income-based health programs in New York state available for self-employed individuals. The Family Health Plus program in New York State provides free health care to individuals who make too much money to qualify for Medicare. For individuals making too much to qualify for Family Health Plus, New York State offers the Healthy NY program. This program also is available to small employers who have 1-50 employees. Eligibility is income-based for individuals but features much higher income levels than Family Health Plus. It has several plan options, including a high-deductible plan, which has lower premiums.
Direct Payment Plans
Direct payment plans are purchased directly through insurance providers. These plans are good for self-employed individuals who do not qualify for New York state-sponsored income-based programs due to high income. Major providers of insurance in New York state include Blue Cross Blue Shield, Univera/Excellus, Aetna, Oxford and Independent Health. They provide the same level of coverage as many of the plans offered by large employers. The only disadvantage to these programs is that premiums are often very high.
New York Bridge Plan
The New York Bridge Plan may be a good option for self-employed individuals who were previously unable to obtain insurance coverage due to a preexisting condition. In a health care reform law passed in March 2010, New York was required to create a "bridge" plan for individuals who had not been able to obtain medical insurance for at least six months due to a prior medical condition. The Bridge plan is administered by Emblem Health and will only operate until 2014, when NY will have health benefit exchanges available for insurance purchase. The plan offers features such as no deductibles, pharmacy benefits and vision care.
Other Policy Options
There are other options for insurance products in New York state. Group Health Incorporated provides a direct pay option that covers only inpatient hospital care, prescription drugs, well childcare and some preventative care. This plan may be good for self-employed people who are relatively healthy and do not go to the doctor often, as it does not cover regular doctor visits. Excellus and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield also offer hospitalization-only coverage, but this coverage does not extend over the whole state, so you will need to check and see if they are offered in your area if you are interested in this type of coverage.
