I think that usually your employer covers a part of your medical bills. Do entrepreneurs receive help from the government or are they on their own in caring for their healthcare?

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  2. Depending on their earnings, they may qualify for government subsidized care or they may have to pay full price for an insurance plan.

    Or they may qualify for some other group plan, it really depends on the details and what’s available in their location and industry.

  3. They are on their own. I have a pre-obamacare plan that costs me $250 per month with a $250 deductible and a $2500 maximum out-of-pocket cost. I will most likely hold onto it until I retire as I wouldn’t be able to get something on the same level in the current marketplace.

  4. They may qualify for credits and can purchase a plan from the state or federal exchange which was part of the Affordable Care Act.

    They can also purchase insurance outside of the exchange.

    Or can just choose not to at all.

    Some may hold second jobs for insurance purchases.

  5. healthcare.gov, you can buy insurance on state marketplaces. Depending on your income, you may be eligible for government subsidies.

  6. “Entrepreneur” isn’t well defined. That could mean anything from a kid mowing a lawn to someone starting a farm or a restaurant to someone getting $3M in venture capital to start a software company. I’m not sure if it includes someone like Bezos who is well beyond the startup stage, but still funds new ideas within Amazon.

    But in general, there are several possibilities:

    1. Go without insurance.

    2. Qualify under someone else’s plan, such as a parent (if under 26) or spouse.

    3. Get a (non-standard) indemnity plan.

    4. Get a plan off of healthcare.gov or state equivalent. They may even qualify for subsidies for this.

    5. Get a group health plan for their business. This seems likely in the venture capital case once they’re ready to hire employees.

  7. As a self-employed entrepreneur without employees my options have been:

    * Purchase an ACA Healthcare plan – There is a tax deduction for health insurance premiums if you don’t have an alternative option such as through your spouse’s employer. ACA plans are also subsidized based on income level, but they can be 2x or 3x more expensive than employer provided plans in my experience.
    * Purchase a plan through my spouse’s employer
    * Utilize an ad hoc combination of services – One year, I combined a Healthcare Sharing plan with a Direct Medical Care service. Healthcare Sharing Plans aren’t insurance but a group of people whose monthly fee goes towards paying the healthcare bills of other members. It doesn’t cover prescriptions, doctor visits, or other basic services, but it’ll cover major medical events like a broken leg or surgery. The Direct Medical Care service is a monthly service plan to pay for unlimited PCP visits.
    * Forego health insurance

  8. They are on their own within the system. As many mentioned they may qualify for some subsidies. The ones that fall between the cracks are small business employees. If they make ‘enough’ money, they won’t qualify for subsidies, but also will have to pay several hundred dollars per month to be on insurance.

    My wife is a nurse at the only local hospital. Her insurance costs her about $100/month. My job doesn’t offer any insurance and it is $580/ month to add me to my wife’s plan. I haven’t had health insurance for 32 years and have recently had some concerns rise up. I will be going on her insurance starting July 1st.

  9. Here are options:

    -Self pay in cash, surprisingly can be cheaper than traditional insurance if healthy

    -Individual plan, this is a private, individual insurance plan you can buy into without it being subsidized by an employer

    -Use your company insurance. If you provide insurance benefits to employees you can typically enroll in the same plan.

    – State and marketplace plans. Medicaid and “Obamacare” plans if you qualify.

    -Medicare, if you qualify by age or disability.

  10. They are on their own. If they’re wealthy enough, they don’t bother with insurance, they’re “self-insured”. Otherwise they have to get their own plan somewhere.

  11. They can call up an insurance company and get a plan for their business, go on their spouses’, or get an Obamacare plan

  12. Terrible ones, usually.

    Health insurance for the self-employed is usually very expensive and covers very little.

  13. > I think that usually your employer covers a part of your medical bills.

    Your employer often covers all or some of your medical *insurance premiums*, but I’ve never heard of an employer covering an employee’s medical *bills* as a matter of practice.

  14. Totally on their own to purchase insurance. Purchasing insurance is required (yes, I’m simplifying, don’t correct me).

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