How do I get health insurance if I am self-employed?

Where can I buy an individual health plan?

On the Health Insurance Marketplace (HealthCare.gov or your state's marketplace), or directly from an insurer or through an agent. Every Marketplace plan covers the ten essential health benefits and cannot exclude treatment because of a preexisting condition. Savings such as the premium tax credit apply to Marketplace plans.

When you apply for Marketplace coverage you give your best estimate of your household income for the year you want coverage, and that estimate affects your savings. Self-employed income varies. Our income estimate guide and private worksheet explain where to start; talk to a tax professional about deductions.

When can I enroll in an individual plan?

Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 in most states. Pick a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1. Outside open enrollment you need a qualifying life event, such as marriage, a new baby or dependent, a move or losing health coverage.

A qualifying life event opens a special enrollment period, usually 60 days long. Some state run marketplaces use different dates, so check your state page.

Can I deduct my health insurance premiums as a self-employed person?

Often yes. The self-employed health insurance deduction lets you deduct premiums for medical, dental, vision and qualified long term care insurance for you, your spouse and your dependents, and for a child under 27 at the end of the year. You report it on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 17, using Form 7206 or the worksheet in the Form 1040 instructions.

• You must have a net profit from the business, or be a partner with net earnings from self-employment, or be a more than 2% S corporation shareholder who received wages from the S corporation.
• The plan must be established under your business. For a sole proprietor, the policy can be in the business's name or in your own.
• You cannot deduct premiums for any month you were eligible to join a health plan subsidized by your employer or your spouse's employer, even if you did not join.
• Medicare premiums you pay voluntarily for insurance in your name can count toward the deduction.

The deduction is limited by your net earnings from the business that sponsors the plan. It does not reduce your self-employment tax.

If you get Marketplace savings and also take the deduction, IRS Publication 974 explains how to figure both. A tax professional can confirm how the rules apply to your return.

How does the deduction work for S corporation owners and partners?

Partners and owners of more than 2% of an S corporation have to route premiums through the business. The business pays or reimburses the premiums and reports them as guaranteed payments or W-2 wages, and the owner then claims the deduction.

For a partner, the policy can be in the partnership's name or the partner's name. If the policy is in your name and you pay the premiums yourself, the partnership must reimburse you and report the premium amounts as guaranteed payments.

For a more than 2% S corporation shareholder, the policy can be in the S corporation's name or yours. Premiums the S corporation pays or reimburses are included in your W-2 wages. Ask your tax professional to set this up before you buy.

What changes when I hire my first employee?

With one employee who is not an owner or an owner's spouse, you may qualify for small group coverage through SHOP and for a CHOICE arrangement, and a QSEHRA if you have fewer than 50 full time employees and no group plan. You could also qualify for the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit if you buy through SHOP.

Our guides on getting health insurance for a small business and on the tax credit explain the next steps. A licensed agent can quote a group plan and an individual plan for you and your employee.