Freelancers, contractors, gig workers and small-business owners — coverage that isn't tied to an employer, and may be tax-deductible.
Not a government marketplace. Health Enrollment Center is operated by Sprinter Insurance Agency LLC.
California runs its own marketplace, Covered California, and it's one of the most consumer-friendly in the country. On top of the federal premium tax credit, California adds its own state subsidies, which means many residents get help that wouldn't exist in a federal-marketplace state. Roughly 1.8 million Californians are enrolled through Covered California, and about 90% receive some form of financial help.
When you work for yourself, nobody hands you a benefits package. The good news: as a self-employed person your income is what determines your ACA premium tax credit, and self-employed people often have more control over their Modified Adjusted Gross Income than W-2 employees do. Structuring income and deductions well can meaningfully lower what you pay for a marketplace plan.
Self-employed health insurance premiums are frequently deductible above the line on your federal return (the self-employed health insurance deduction), which effectively discounts your coverage again at tax time. Pairing an HSA-eligible high-deductible plan with an HSA is a common strategy for 1099 earners who want to shelter income and build a medical nest egg.
We help California freelancers and business owners compare marketplace plans (with subsidies) against private off-marketplace plans side by side, so you can weigh network breadth against price without guessing.
California runs its own exchange, Covered California, rather than using HealthCare.gov. That matters more than it sounds: state-based exchanges set their own Open Enrollment dates, can recognize special enrollment situations the federal marketplace does not, and sometimes administer state-only programs that have no federal equivalent. Check the Covered California calendar rather than assuming the federal dates apply to you. California runs its own state-based marketplace, Covered California, and adds state subsidies on top of the federal premium tax credit for many residents.
If your 1099 income puts you above roughly 138% of the federal poverty level, California's Medicaid expansion isn't your lane — the premium tax credit is, and self-employed people have more control over the Modified Adjusted Gross Income that sets it than almost anyone. The one thing to watch is the floor: estimate a year low enough and the marketplace will route you to Medicaid instead of a subsidized plan, so estimate honestly and update it when the year comes in stronger. California expanded Medicaid (Medi-Cal) and offers some of the most generous coverage in the country, including Medi-Cal eligibility regardless of immigration status for many residents. Above the Medi-Cal line, Covered California layers state subsidies onto the federal premium tax credit, so a large share of enrollees pay very little.
The carriers writing individual business in California include Kaiser Permanente, Blue Shield of California, Anthem Blue Cross, Health Net, Molina Healthcare and others. Networks and pricing are set county by county rather than statewide, so the same carrier can be the best value in one metro and the wrong choice an hour away. We quote Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento — and every county in between.
Don't see yours? Call a licensed agent — most answers take under two minutes.
It depends on your income and who needs coverage, but for most self-employed residents of California a subsidized ACA marketplace plan is the strongest option — it's guaranteed-issue, covers pre-existing conditions, and the premium tax credit is income-based. We compare it against private plans so you see the full picture.
Yes. California supplements the federal premium tax credit with its own state subsidies for eligible residents, which can meaningfully lower your monthly premium beyond what a federal-marketplace state offers. We'll check every credit you qualify for.
Through Covered California, the exchange California runs itself — not HealthCare.gov. A licensed agent can enroll you in the same plans at the same price. Because California sets its own calendar, check the Open Enrollment dates against Covered California rather than assuming the federal ones apply to you.
The carriers writing individual business in California include Kaiser Permanente, Blue Shield of California, Anthem Blue Cross, Health Net, Molina Healthcare and others. Which of them is actually competitive depends on your county rather than the state — the lineup and the networks in Los Angeles are not the lineup in Sacramento. We are independent and compare across all of them rather than steering you to one company.
Start with your ZIP. Two quick questions, then a licensed agent brings you the plans you actually qualify for — no cost, no obligation.