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.
New York works differently from most states, in ways that favor the consumer. It runs its own marketplace — NY State of Health — and it's one of the few states that offers the Essential Plan, a comprehensive, very low or $0-premium plan for residents who earn too much for Medicaid but still need affordable coverage. Many New Yorkers who'd pay real money elsewhere qualify for near-free coverage here.
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 New York 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.
New York runs its own exchange, NY State of Health, 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 NY State of Health calendar rather than assuming the federal dates apply to you. New York runs its own state-based marketplace, NY State of Health, and also offers the low-cost Essential Plan.
If your 1099 income puts you above roughly 138% of the federal poverty level, New York'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. New York expanded Medicaid and additionally offers the Essential Plan — a very low or $0-premium option for lower-income residents who earn too much for Medicaid. Between the two, many New Yorkers qualify for comprehensive coverage at little to no cost.
The carriers writing individual business in New York include Fidelis Care, Healthfirst, UnitedHealthcare / Oxford, EmblemHealth, MetroPlusHealth 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 New York City, Long Island, Buffalo and Albany — 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 New York 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.
No. New York is a community-rated state, so insurers charge the same base premium regardless of age for a given plan. This is unusual — in most states a 60-year-old pays roughly three times what a 21-year-old pays. It makes New York especially attractive for older residents and early retirees.
Through NY State of Health, the exchange New York runs itself — not HealthCare.gov. A licensed agent can enroll you in the same plans at the same price. Because New York sets its own calendar, check the Open Enrollment dates against NY State of Health rather than assuming the federal ones apply to you.
The carriers writing individual business in New York include Fidelis Care, Healthfirst, UnitedHealthcare / Oxford, EmblemHealth, MetroPlusHealth and others. Which of them is actually competitive depends on your county rather than the state — the lineup and the networks in New York City are not the lineup in Albany. 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.