Free educational tool

Free Health Insurance Cost Estimator — See Your Options Before You Overpay

Answer a few quick questions and get a plain-English look at how your coverage paths compare — for your exact situation. It's educational, not a quote: free, no signup, no carrier names, no premium figures, no spam. When you're ready for a real number, I'll run it with you for free.

Nothing is stored. No health questions. Ever.

How much is health insurance if you're self-employed?

There's no single sticker price — and anyone who gives you one before knowing your situation is guessing. What you pay depends on your age, where you live, how many people you're covering, the plan tier you choose, and whether you qualify for income-based marketplace help. That's why this tool is an educational estimator, not a quote engine: it shows you which paths are worth comparing so you walk into a real conversation already knowing the map. When you're self-employed, the two big paths are usually the ACA marketplace (where a subsidy can lower your cost based on income) and the individual, private under-65 market (where flexibility and network are the draw). The right answer is the one that fits your income, your doctors, and how you use care.

What if you make too much for an ACA subsidy?

This is the spot a lot of successful self-employed people land in: your income is high enough that the marketplace subsidy shrinks or disappears — the so-called subsidy cliff. It's easy to assume that leaves you stuck paying full sticker price on the exchange, but that's exactly the moment to look wider. Once income-based help is off the table, the marketplace's biggest advantage is gone, and private, under-65 health insurance often competes hard on both price and network flexibility.

Private health insurance vs. the marketplace comes down to this: subsidized marketplace coverage usually wins when you qualify for real help; when you don't, medically underwritten private plans (the kind that ask some health questions before you enroll) can deliver comparable or better coverage for less — though they work differently and aren't the right fit for everyone. If you're self-employed and earn too much for a subsidy, comparing the two side by side is the single most valuable thing you can do before you enroll. Run your situation in the estimator above, then let's compare them on your real numbers.

Is COBRA worth it, or is there a cheaper alternative?

COBRA lets you keep your exact job-based plan after you leave — but you pay the full premium yourself, with no employer contribution, which is often a shock. It's not your only option. Losing job-based coverage usually opens a special enrollment window, so you can compare COBRA against a marketplace plan (often subsidized) and private under-65 coverage side by side. For a lot of healthy people, one of the alternatives delivers comparable flexibility for meaningfully less — but not always, which is exactly why it's worth running the numbers both ways before you default to the priciest route. Use the estimator above to see the paths for your situation, then read the full COBRA-alternatives guide →

What does this estimator actually tell me?

It maps your coverage paths in plain English — which categories fit your moment, what each one is good for, and what to watch out for. It deliberately does not quote a premium or name a carrier, because an honest number needs your real details. Think of it as the briefing before the conversation: you'll know the right questions to ask and won't get talked into the wrong plan. The next step, whenever you're ready, is a free call where I run your exact numbers and lay the real options side by side.

Common questions

Quick answers.

Is this a real quote?

No — it's an educational estimator. It shows you which coverage paths are worth comparing for your situation, but it doesn't name carriers or state a premium. A real number needs your specific details, which I'll run with you for free.

How much is health insurance for the self-employed?

It depends on your age, ZIP, household size, the plan tier you pick, and whether you qualify for income-based marketplace help. There's no honest one-size answer. The estimator shows the paths; a quick call gets you the real figure.

Is COBRA worth it or is there a cheaper alternative?

COBRA keeps your old plan but at full price. Losing job-based coverage usually opens a special enrollment window, so you can compare COBRA against marketplace and private options. Often an alternative costs less for similar flexibility — but not always, so it's worth comparing both ways.

What are my options if I make too much for an ACA subsidy?

Plenty. Once your income is too high to qualify for a subsidy — sometimes called the 'subsidy cliff' — full-price marketplace coverage is rarely your best deal; that's when private, medically underwritten under-65 plans often compete hard on price and network flexibility. If you're self-employed and earn too much for a subsidy, comparing private vs. the marketplace side by side is the highest-value move before you enroll.

Do you store my information?

The estimator stores nothing. It never asks health questions. If you choose to get the breakdown emailed, I receive only your name, email, and which situation you picked — used to follow up, nothing else.

Does it cost anything to get a real number from you?

No. There's no fee to work with me — I'm compensated by the carriers, not by you. You get a licensed advisor who compares your options in plain English and helps you enroll if you choose to.

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In their words

“He compared appropriate options to our current plan and helped me understand our best option moving forward … the option he recommended was one that did not benefit him at all, and was in my own best interest.”

— Martin B.

“Extremely helpful with the process. Explained the pros/cons of each marketplace. Answered all questions.”

— Christopher G.

“In a sea of private insurance brokers vying for my time … Ryan stood out in his honest, simple, and straightforward approach.”

— Matthew M.

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Ready for a real number?

A quick call turns the map above into your actual options — compared side by side, in plain English, with no pressure to enroll.

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