As a freelancer there’s a lot that you have to think about that stays on your daily to-do or on one of the many back-burners on the stove-top of life. One of those major things is the fact that depending on where you live, you have to have insurance.
In the U.S.A. you have to sign up for insurance if you don’t get it through work. There are a few options for that but it can also be a complicated process. From looking into COBRA coverage (which won’t ever stop contacting you), to working with your partner’s insurance, there are few options available that can keep you covered.
- Through Your Partner’s Insurance
One of the easiest ways to ensure that you are covered is through your partner if they already have insurance. There are several ways this can happen.
If your partner is also a freelancer, then you can hop onto their insurance by having them add you on their insurance plan. It’s usually a quick and painless thing to do, however you will have to weigh out a few things here.
How much is it going to cost to add you to their insurance?
Is it less expensive for you to get the same coverage another way?
Are you going to be covered with what you need as an individual?
When you’ve taken the time to assess these different areas of insurance juggling, then it is time to move forward.
Keep in mind that if your partner is not a freelance or gig worker, they will more than likely have access to higher tier insurance programs as well. If they work a 9 to 5, then they have to contact their HR department to get you added to their insurance.
- Work with Selfgood
If you don’t have a partner (and if you do), Selfgood is the best way to make sure you have the different kinds of insurance you need at rates that you can afford. Their entire system is based on the idea that freelancers aren’t going to want to pay for things that they don’t need.
The system is so easy to use as well. You pick and choose what you need, add that to your insurance ‘cart’ and Selfgood finds what works best to cover what you need. No two plans are the same and they have more than just health insurance. They have pet, renter’s, life, home, and auto insurance.
To make things even better, there are benefits to joining the Alliance of Gig Workers which is an organization supported by Selfgood. You’ll find additional discounts on travel, medical consultations, tech, and so much more.
Needless to say, if you want something that is tailored specifically to you and your needs without all the extra floof, then Selfgood is definitely one of the best ways to go for freelance and gig workers.
- Use Your Country or State Insurance Programs
Depending on where you live, you may have access to state or country based healthcare. Of course this is going to vary greatly across the world. For those based in the United States, the Affordable Care Act has now made it possible to sign-up for insurance with lower rates.
Generally speaking, lower rates are only going to be easy to find when working a regular 9 to 5 thanks to the deals that many companies make with insurance companies in order to cover their employees.
- COBRA Coverage
COBRA is a fancy way of saying that you can keep your benefits from an old job (this applies mainly to those who have recently jumped into the world of freelance work) for twice as much money.
Doesn’t sound like fun does it?
Well, it has its benefits.
You get to keep the same doctors, work with the same medical team, and so on and so forth. This is not going to be a big deal for everyone, but it might be for those that have higher medical needs than those that don’t.
For example, if you have just had major surgery or an accident, you are going to want to work with the medical team that is aware of your experiences instead of having to explain everything all over again.
Other cases where COBRA coverage would be preferred over other forms of coverage could be with chronic illness, or pain that has to be managed regularly. If that’s the case, it’s okay to stay on COBRA until you find an alternative program that is affordable for you that also covers your normal care team.
Work with your doctors and nurses and they will help you find the medical plans that they are covered under that will more than likely be available through Selfgood or through the ACA.
Conclusion
Insurance isn’t an easy thing to take care of. It can be stressful if you are trying to go through all of the documentation, legalese, and more on your own. That’s why the options here are going to be your best bet that keeps you supported, covered, and safe.
