When your income shows up on a 1099 instead of a W-2, nobody hands you a benefits package — and the individual quotes you find on your own can be brutal. Whether you drive, deliver, consult, build, or freelance, you can still get real coverage that fits how you actually earn. That's what I do.
1099 work gives you freedom, but it takes away the one thing W-2 employees barely think about: a group health plan with the employer paying half. On your own, an unsubsidized plan can feel eye-watering — and if your income swings month to month, guessing wrong on the marketplace can cost you. You need someone who shops it for you and explains the trade-offs straight.
Most 1099 earners land in a tough middle: too much income for the biggest subsidies, too little to shrug off full price, and no HR department to call. There's a smarter way to compare your real options.
As an independent broker, I compare private under-65 plans alongside the ACA marketplace and tell you which genuinely fits your income, your doctors, and your budget. Many private plans offer PPO-style networks and can be applied for year-round. There's no fee to work with me and no pressure to enroll — just a clear, honest comparison.
Want the bigger picture first? Read my plain-English guide: Private health insurance vs. the ACA marketplace → — or see my main self-employed coverage page →
Coverage that fits variable, self-reported income — with guidance on the self-employed premium deduction to raise with your tax pro.
Many private under-65 plans use PPO-style networks, so you can often keep the doctors you trust — typically without referrals.
Private plans can usually be applied for outside open enrollment, so a new contract or a dropped plan doesn't leave you stuck.
You work with one licensed person from first call through enrollment and beyond — no call center, no being passed around.
Yes. You're not locked out — you simply buy an individual plan instead of getting one through an employer. I compare private under-65 plans and ACA marketplace options and tell you which fits your income, doctors, and budget.
Individual plans generally don't require an employer; for marketplace subsidies your estimated annual income matters, and I'll help you think it through. Private plans focus on eligibility and underwriting rather than an employer. I'll walk you through what each path needs.
Many self-employed and 1099 individuals can deduct their premiums, which lowers the real cost. I'm not a tax advisor, but I'll flag exactly what to ask your tax pro so you don't miss it.
That's common, and it's worth planning around — over-estimating or under-estimating income on the marketplace can affect subsidies at tax time. I help you weigh a private plan versus a marketplace plan so a good month or a slow month doesn't blindside you.
Often, yes. Private under-65 plans can usually be applied for year-round, and a qualifying life event can open a special enrollment window on the marketplace — so you're rarely stuck waiting.
Broader coverage guidance for anyone buying their own plan.
Explore self-employed →Just left a job or lost a plan? Move fast and avoid a gap.
See gap options →Covering your household on your own instead of through work.
Explore family coverage →Fifteen minutes to talk through how you earn — then a clear, honest set of options.