Top Healthcare and Insurance Insights All in One Place

Signing up for a health insurance plan is a little different in the gig economy. Salaried positions usually come with health benefits, typically offering a few health insurance plan options to pick from. If you’re self-employed, gig economy worker, or freelancer, health coverage isn’t built into your job.

Does that mean you’re stuck without insurance, crossing your fingers that nothing goes wrong? Of course not! The process of getting insured as a gig worker is different, but it’s still easy and affordable if you know how to do it. Relax. We’ll walk you through it.

When you’re a gig economy worker, you’re your own boss.

Self-employed friends, give yourself a pat on the back. In the eyes of the government, you’re your own employer. In exchange for perks like choosing, how, when, and where you work, you’re in charge of getting your own medical insurance plan.

Why is health insurance as a gig worker so important, anyway?

Unless you’re the next Marvel superhero, you’re probably not invincible. In addition to the risk of getting sick or injured, staying on top of preventative care is crucial for gig workers. While some states offer limited unemployment benefits to independent contractors, more often than not, being unable to work means losing your income. If a gig worker gets seriously ill and can’t work, they’re stuck taking care of astronomical medical bills while they’re supposed to be taking care of themselves. Not good. Fortunately, getting insured isn’t that tough.

With HealthBird, picking a new plan is a breeze for gig workers

When your employer provides health insurance, your options are chosen for you. As a gig worker, you have dozens of plans to pick from, but all those options can be overwhelming. That’s where HealthBird comes in. Just download the app, answer a few questions, and get a list of plans that fit your needs and budget in a matter of minutes.

It’s crazy simple, and depending on your income, number of dependents, and other factors, you may be eligible for reduced premiums. Additionally, if you pay for your own medical insurance, your monthly premiums are deductible on your federal taxes.

Still nervous? Don’t be!

If you can handle being your own boss, you can handle this one too. Open enrollment is coming soon.

Prepare by taking the free HealthBird app for a spin and start planning your next health insurance move today.

Growing up is fun, isn’t it? You finally have no one telling you what to do! When you turn 26 and realize you have no idea how health insurance actually works, and can’t stay on Mom or Dad’s plan anymore, it’s not quite as fun. There are plenty of other reasons you may not have had to shop for health insurance up until now, too. Maybe you’ve always had insurance through your job, and now you’re taking the freelance life for a spin. Whatever the reason, signing up for health insurance doesn’t need to be intimidating.

If none of the insurance jargon makes sense, don’t feel bad. Just follow this 10-step cheat sheet, and you’ll be on your way to having effective, affordable coverage. If you’re in a rush, skip to number eight. If there’s any insurance fact you have to know, it’s that one.

1. Know that signing up for a health insurance plan saves money in the long run

At first, signing up for health insurance seems like a waste of money. If you’re young and healthy, it feels pointless to hand over your hard-earned cash for a subscription you never use. Why bother? You probably use Hulu and Netflix way more often, and those services don’t pay for themselves! The difference is that if you cancel your streaming subscriptions, the biggest risk is that you’ll miss out on the latest Disney+ exclusive. If you skip health coverage, you risk paying tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket. It doesn’t seem worth it until you need it. Once you do, it’s very, very worth it. Paying for another pricy “subscription” might be a pain, but going bankrupt hurts so much worse. Don’t risk it.

2. Be wary of sketchy health insurance ads

The allure of low-cost health insurance advertised online is understandable. If it looks too good to be true it probably is. When you’re shopping for health insurance, stick with reliable sources. If you are not selecting a plan through your employer, HealthBird is the go-to platform for reviewing your options. It's a reputable app that streamlines the entire process. Alternatively, you can also explore HealthCare.gov for additional choices and information.

3. Find out if you’re eligible for free or low-cost coverage

Depending on your income, it’s possible you’re eligible for reduced monthly premiums, or even no premium at all. If you’re over 26, or over 18 and no one claims you as a dependent on their income taxes, your income will be automatically taken into account during the application process to get you the best prices possible.

4. Consider your health needs

Before you choose a plan, consider how you’ll likely use it. If you’re young and have no preexisting conditions, you’ll likely use your insurance sparingly. You may not need to spend extra on a PPO plan that allows you to visit out-of-network specialists without a referral. If you have a chronic condition, however, the upgrade is worth it. Check whether your current prescriptions are covered under any plans you’re reviewing as well. Just like pants, your plan is supposed to fit you, not the other way around.

5. Browse local health networks

If you select an HMO plan, you’ll be able to see a list of doctors and specialists who all work within a single network. If you already have a doctor you love, check what network they work with and choose a plan accordingly. If you don’t, consider asking around for local recommendations to make it easier to find a primary care physician you actually want to visit.

6. Read up on premiums, deductibles, and copays

Decoding some of the buzzwords of health insurance is important to choosing the right plan. The short version? A premium is the amount you pay every month to stay covered. A deductible is the amount you’ll be expected to pay out of pocket before your coverage kicks in. A copay is the amount you’ll have to pitch in for covered services. A lab test might be covered 80% by your insurance plan, for example, while you’ll need to pay the remaining 20%. For the details, check out our in-depth post on health insurance tiers.

7. If you like the plan you have, you might be able to keep it

Even if you’re aging out of your parent’s health insurance plan, if you already love the insurance you have, why change? Many major health insurance companies offer the same or similar health insurance plans through online insurance marketplaces as they do through employers. Look for a plan within the same insurance provider network, and all your existing care providers should be covered.

8. Don’t miss the deadline

Health insurance open enrollment is only available once a year starting on November 1st. Shoppers have until January 15th to enroll, although individual states may extend the deadline. Get the details on how open enrollment works here.

9. Sign up the easy way

If you go to your state’s online healthcare marketplace, you’ll need to sort through all your coverage options on your own. That’s a tedious task for anyone! HealthBird simplifies the process by asking you to answer the most important questions right off the bat. Based on your answers, the app narrows down your options and curates customized, no-commitment quotes in minutes. Give it a try! It’s totally free.

10. Ask for help

Still stumped? We have live agents available around the clock to clear up any confusion and help you choose the right health insurance plan for you. Yes, real people, not annoying bots. Reach out online, and get your questions answered fast.

It’s coming, folks: Open enrollment is right around the corner, and that’s great news. Open enrollment is our favorite time of year for three reasons.

1. It’s the easiest time to enroll in a health plan, hands down.

2. It’s an opportunity to switch plans if your old coverage doesn’t match your needs.

3. The open enrollment period starts and ends at about the same time every year, so you have plenty of time to read up and weigh your options.

To make matters easier, we’ll break down the details. It’s not as complicated as it seems, trust us.

When is open enrollment this year? We’re glad you asked

According to HealthCare.gov, the open enrollment period begins on November 1st. The deadline for enrollment is January 15th in most states. Those who enroll by December 15th will receive coverage starting on January 1st, while those who enroll between December 16th and January 15th will start coverage on February 1st.

State-based deadlines vary slightly, however. Some states offer earlier open enrollment, while others extend the window for benefits enrollment through January 31st. Find your official state-based healthcare website here, or review a summary of the current state-specific deadlines on the ObamaCare open enrollment guide. Extensions may change, so check your state’s official website or HealthCare.gov for the latest information. Of course, it’s easier to plan ahead, so save yourself the headache and explore your healthcare options early.

Who’s eligible for open enrollment?

The annual open enrollment period is the best time for everyone to enroll in health coverage unless you already receive coverage through your employer or through Medicare. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), parents can also sign up their children for coverage until the age of 26, with no lifetime cap or annual cap on how much insurance will pay. You can’t be denied coverage if you or your child has a preexisting condition either. In other words, if you’re a law-abiding U.S. citizen who lives in the country and isn’t covered by Medicare, you should be eligible for health insurance enrollment during this year’s open enrollment period.

What happens if you miss the deadline for enrollment?

After the enrollment deadline on January 15th, your healthcare options become considerably more limited. It may be possible to get coverage if you experience a qualifying life event, like losing coverage through your job, getting a divorce, or having a child. If none of those circumstances apply, you may very well be stuck with your current plan, or have to go without insurance until the next open enrollment period. There are temporary options worth considering to span the gap, but it’s much easier to avoid the issue and enroll on time. Fortunately, the window for open enrollment is about 10 weeks long, leaving plenty of time to pick a great plan.

How are you supposed to pick a health plan when there are so many to choose from?

If it seems overwhelming, we feel you. We thought the same thing, so we decided to make the entire process a whole lot easier. Instead of having to browse endless options on a confusing health insurance marketplace website, you can get a customized list of plans tailored to meet your exact needs and priorities. Just answer a few questions, get tailored recommendations with side-by-side-comparisons, submit your application, and get approved online. Quotes are instant, and the entire process takes less than 10 minutes.

That said, you’re welcome to take all the time you need. Your quotes will be saved in the HealthBird app for you to review at your convenience. If you’re in the market for dental or vision coverage, you can shop for that too.

Bottom line: Why procrastinate when picking a plan is so easy?

We get it. The process of health plan selection can be overwhelming, but it’s not as complicated as it sounds. We’ve done our best to make it as intuitive as possible, and we’re always available to chat if you need help.

Open enrollment is the best time for changing health plans or exploring the latest available healthcare options, so mark your calendar: November 1. Get covered, and stay healthy. And don’t forget to buy some healthy snacks to celebrate once you’re all squared away!