Health Insurance for the Newly Self-Employed

Who is this for?

• Newly self-employed workers who just left an employer health plan
• Freelancers and consultants buying their first individual plan
• New LLC or small-business owners setting up coverage for the first time
• Anyone comparing COBRA against a marketplace plan after leaving a job
• Independent contractors who never had to choose their own plan before

What's covered?

Every ACA-compliant plan we recommend includes the ten Essential Health Benefits - the coverage a new business owner actually relies on:

• Annual physical and preventive care (100% covered)
• Mental health and therapy
• Telehealth visits - see a doctor without leaving your desk
• Prescription drug coverage
• Urgent care and emergency visits
• Maternity and newborn care
• Lab work and imaging
• Coverage that works across state lines as you build your business

How much will it cost me?

Premium tax credits are based on your estimated self-employed income for the year, not a prior W-2 salary. That estimate can be tricky in year one, and we'll help you get it right. Below are typical post-subsidy monthly costs for a self-employed individual earning $40,000:

When can I enroll?

Open Enrollment runs November 1 - January 15. Outside of that window, leaving a job that provided health coverage is a qualifying life event that triggers a 60-day Special Enrollment Period:

• Leaving a W-2 job (and its health plan) to go independent
• Your COBRA coverage or subsidy is ending
• Forming a new LLC or starting a consulting practice
• Losing coverage through a spouse's job change
• Moving to a new state as a remote or independent worker

COBRA vs. the marketplace

COBRA lets you keep your old employer plan, but you pay the full premium plus an admin fee - often $500-$700+ a month with no subsidy. A marketplace plan, priced against your new self-employed income, is frequently cheaper and just as robust. We'll run both numbers side by side before you decide.

Why Launch Coverage?

We specialize in the first plan someone buys after leaving an employer job. We translate insurance into plain English, help you estimate self-employed income for subsidy purposes, and stay your dedicated agent for life. Our service is free - we're paid by the carriers, not by you.