I've never purchased medical on my own via my business, I've been piggybacking on my former employers COBRA. How does one seek quotes or shop medical coverage?

Thanks,

We use a broker that shops for us. The savings they offer pays off quite a bit in the end. If you would like her contact information, email me and I’ll share.

It is gonna be tough. Your COBRA plan is far better than what you can get on your own. Your insurance agent can help point you in the right direction. You want to try and get group coverage if possible. If you belong to a professional organization coverage at times is possible. Physician friends of mine can buy into the group insurance plan of the local hospital. It is expensive, you are locked into to seeing one very large group of doctors, but it is excellent coverage. Individual policies from Blue Cross are expensive, and have high deductibles. Your age and whether you have pre existing conditions will also be factors. There are some insurance experts on this panel that may be able to help.

Do you have employees?

I was in a similar position years ago, and quickly found out that the Affordable Care Act is not so affordable. High premiums, high deductibles, few choices. Good luck.

You can go on the ACA website and put in your info to get an idea of their prices but they are likely to be very high.
Figure out exactly what you need covered. If you're older and can bump up the deductibles, that will help a lot.
Call an insurance broker. If you know someone in a similar situation, call them to see who they use. Don't call several brokers or fill out online quote forms you'll spend you're time trying to get them to stop calling and emailing.
Be prepared for sticker shock.

I went through this recently. If you want a group health insurance policy, it depends on state, but as far as I can tell, the minimum requirement everywhere is at least one full-time employee that is NOT the owner, and a certain percentage of employees (in the case of owner + 1, both of them) have to opt for coverage.

If you're married, some places you can get around this by hiring your spouse as a full-time minimum wage employee and you and your spouse having separate insurance plans.

Some states prohibit the spouse thing. Some carriers (and maybe states, not sure) have larger minimum employee requirements.

I went through this because in Harris county (the main county for Houston), the only individual plans on the ACA exchange at any price are fucking HORRIBLE HMO plans that offer zero out-of-network benefits - with every good hospital in Houston, including the children's hospital, out-of-network.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
Do you have employees?

No, just me.

Single, 37, healthy, non-smoker, no one claims me and I claim no one.

High deductible isn't a problem. I've got an email in to my CPA to see what my options are from a tax shelter perspective.

There are lots of trade organizations that have health insurance.

So do alumni associations, fraternal organizations etc. I am sure the NRA does too.

I used to get mine through a trade group.

Here is a link for a few options.

https://www.thebalancesmb.com/...iness-owners-4171595

I have no experience with the link, it is just an example.

I have always found a way to get blue cross as it has all the doctors I wanted to see.

Your needs may be different.

might surprise you

COBRA coverage typically isn't cheap

----------------------------

Florida Blue has been the best deal for me. If you like, I can connect you with my broker, who did a great job helping me find a plan.

Email in profile.

A

Some of the above suggested are good ideas. Also check the local chamber of commerce as sometimes they have deals set up for small business.

quote:

Originally posted by sig2392:
There are lots of trade organizations that have health insurance.

So do alumni associations, fraternal organizations etc. I am sure the NRA does too.

I used to get mine through a trade group.

Here is a link for a few options.

https://www.thebalancesmb.com/...iness-owners-4171595

I have no experience with the link, it is just an example.

I have always found a way to get blue cross as it has all the doctors I wanted to see.

Your needs may be different.

You might be surprised. When the issue described earlier arose, I got that advice, and checked every organization I was a member of or that I could join.

Universally, every organization I called that had offered health insurance to members had stopped due to the ACA.

Eons ago, when I first went into business, best deal I could find was through the Chamber of Commerce in a nearby city.

Mrs. Mike says,
“If the COBRA is being administered by an outside company, they may be able to shop options for you.”

She said the other info above is good also.

Be sure to ask whomever quotes you, how do you get paid...ie is he getting a commission from your or the insurance company...

Quick update:

Thanks to all who took the time to contribute to this thread, special shout out to Noah and Art for their offers as well. I was able to secure a private plan which is going to save me a few hundred bucks a month on my existing plan.

Best,