Health Insurance for the Self-Employed
Becoming self-employed often means leaving the comfort of affordable and easily obtainable health insurance. The following tips may save you some of the frustration you may encounter as a self-employed individual in the market for health insurance.
Do your homework. Research the company and policy thoroughly before buying insurance and you may save hundreds of dollars yearly. Here are some guidelines to consider.... Make annual or semi-annual payments of premiums. Ask your agent about service fees and discounts. If you pay annually or semi-annually, the service fee may be waived, and you may receive a discount. A higher deductible should be taken into consideration. You may want to consider changing to a higher deductible if your family is healthy and has been for a number of years. A higher deductible could significantly reduce your premium. Also read the article "Health Savings Accounts Offer Tax Breaks." Participate in an independent group plan. To help lower the overall cost of insurance premiums, most self-employed people join associations to enroll in a group health plan. If an existing group health plan is not available, consider starting one within the trade association with which you are affiliated. Tax Deduction Considerations - A self-employed individual may deduct, in computing adjusted gross income, amounts paid during the tax year for insurance that constitutes medical care for the taxpayer, spouse, dependents and any child of the taxpayer who hasn't attained age 27 as of the end of the tax year if certain requirements are satisfied. A "child" includes the taxpayer's child, stepchild, legally adopted individual, an individual lawfully placed with the employee for legal adoption, and an eligible foster child. There are no other qualifications other than being the taxpayer's child; thus income or marital status has no bearing. If the self-employed person considers these issues in the initial process, finding an affordable and convenient health insurance should be effortless. Contact this office for further assistance.