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.
Connecticut does not use HealthCare.gov. It runs its own marketplace, Access Health CT, and for 2026 kept enrollment open through the end of January rather than the mid-December federal cutoff. Roughly 157,000 residents are covered through it, and about 80% get a premium tax credit — so for most people above the HUSKY line, the real monthly cost is what's left after the subsidy.
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 Connecticut 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.
Connecticut runs its own exchange, Access Health CT, 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 Access Health CT calendar rather than assuming the federal dates apply to you. Connecticut runs its own exchange, Access Health CT, on its own platform — not HealthCare.gov — and set a longer window for 2026 that ran through January 31.
If your 1099 income puts you above roughly 138% of the federal poverty level, Connecticut'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. Connecticut expanded Medicaid, so HUSKY covers adults up to 138% of the poverty line and marketplace subsidies generally begin just above that floor.
The carriers writing individual business in Connecticut include Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, ConnectiCare. 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 Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport & Stamford — 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 Connecticut 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.
For most people above the HUSKY line it's a subsidized Access Health CT plan — about 80% of enrollees get a premium tax credit, so many pay far less than the sticker premium. We compare your options for your exact ZIP and income.
Through Access Health CT, the exchange Connecticut runs itself — not HealthCare.gov. A licensed agent can enroll you in the same plans at the same price. Because Connecticut sets its own calendar, check the Open Enrollment dates against Access Health CT rather than assuming the federal ones apply to you.
The carriers writing individual business in Connecticut include Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, ConnectiCare. Which of them is actually competitive depends on your county rather than the state — the lineup and the networks in Hartford are not the lineup in Bridgeport & Stamford. 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.