If you’re looking for a health insurance plan that covers prescription drugs, your best bets are Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna, Molina Healthcare, Humana and Oscar.
Reasons for our selection include Blue Cross Blue Shield’s stellar reputation and extensive network of medical professionals and hospitals. Families and individuals who are self-employed can get full coverage with reduced out-of-pocket costs through its Gold plan.
Due to its reasonably priced Gold plans, this provider was considered for our list of the top insurance choices for independent contractors. People who use their health insurance frequently should consider “gold” plans, which offer lower out-of-pocket costs but higher monthly premiums.
Even if the monthly premiums are greater for gold plans, they are well worth it for self-employed people who would prefer to know their healthcare costs in advance so they can budget accordingly.
With nearly 1.7 million participating physicians and hospitals nationwide, the insurer also boasts an extensive provider network across a wide coverage area.
Being comprised of a network of 35 regional organizations is the primary downside of this insurance provider. Customer service may vary by area. When it comes to customer satisfaction, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois is ranked first by JD Power, yet in California, it’s ranked far lower.
The credit rating firm AM Best has given this company A, A-, or A+ ratings, depending on the location. According to the BBB, it likewise has an A+ rating.
Plan members can save money on gym memberships and exercise equipment with health and wellness discounts, and physician copays start at $10. Dental coverage for both adults and children is an optional extra.
If you’re self-employed and looking for a reliable option with affordable premiums and a huge provider network, Blue Cross Blue Shield is a good choice.
Aetna
Choosing it: Depending on your income, you can offset the price of your health insurance with Aetna’s plans, which qualify for the maximum premium tax credit. Starting a freelancing career and seeking coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA)? This is a fantastic choice for you.
You can get the highest possible premium discount through the Affordable Care Act with any of Aetna’s many HMO, PPO, or EPO plans. This means your premium expenses can be adjusted based on your income.
An Aetna Silver plan with a zero-dollar deductible is available to those with incomes below 150% of the federal poverty line. Regrettably, those tax benefits aren’t accessible in every state. To find out which plans are available to you based on your income and area, you can either visit the Aetna website and enter your zip code or speak with an agent.
Affordable MinuteClinic services from Aetna are another perk for freelancers and small business owners. As little as $0 can get you emergency and preventive care at your neighborhood MinuteClinic. Members also have free, round-the-clock access to virtual care. Copays for medical treatments provided by doctors begin at $20.
In the absence of ACA premium tax subsidies, Aetna is not the most budget-friendly choice. Having said that, the firm has an A+ rating with the BBB and an A rating with AM Best, so it is known for being reliable.
United Health Care
Choosing it: United Healthcare has one of the largest networks in the nation, with more than 6,500 hospitals and 1.3 million doctors and other medical professionals. Self-employed individuals and families can choose from a range of products offered by this insurance provider, including medical, dental, vision, and supplemental policies.
UnitedHealthcare offers extensive insurance options and serves customers in every state. United gives Medicare and Medicaid plans to eligible individuals, as well as short-term and supplemental insurance.
As a self-employed person, you won’t find more affordable health insurance with this provider. Family plans can cost more than $1,200 per year, and the average premium for a healthy 30-year-old is about $400. Yet with those plans, you get access to United’s extensive network and additional perks, such as wellness discounts and affordable medications. A primary care visit’s copayment begins at $0.
UnitedHealthcare’s A+ rating from the BBB is proof of its strong user reviews. View your health plan details, make a digital ID card, and manage your medicines with its highly rated smartphone app.
Cigna
Choosing it: Affordable health insurance plans are available from Cigna to self-employed individuals in 12 states across the US. The company’s online consultations and home delivery of prescriptions were significant factors in our decision to work with them.
While Cigna isn’t available in every state, it does provide self-employed professionals in the following areas with affordable health maintenance organization (HMO) and employer-sponsored organization (EPO) plans and tailored online services: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and W.C.
Cigna collaborates with 67,000 pharmacies and 1.5 million healthcare providers and institutions in the aforementioned locations. In addition to Medicare Part D prescription medication plans and dental coverage, it is available in every state.
Easy access to healthcare is one of Cigna’s most attractive characteristics. Online pharmacy services and round-the-clock virtual health consultations are among these. Those who work from home as self-employed people can take advantage of Cigna’s online medical consultation, prescription, and delivery services without ever leaving the comfort of their own home.
Cigna’s customer service is average at best. There are many consumer complaints, and the insurance company does not have a BBB rating. Anyone looking for insurance should know this before making a final decision.
Healthcare Provider Molina
Choosing it: Check out Molina if you’re seeking affordable coverage on your own. You may get extensive coverage at a price that won’t break the bank with its Bronze and Silver plans.
Affordable health insurance isn’t always the best option, according to Molina Healthcare. When it comes time to see a doctor, a cheap plan with limited coverage usually won’t be much assistance. Still, a prominent insurer like Molina Healthcare provides solid coverage at an affordable price.
While Molina is available in every state, only 14 offer its Affordable Care Act plans. Premiums for a healthy 30-year-old can range from $200 to $300 per month, depending on your area, even without ACA aid. This is for a Bronze or Silver plan. Initial physician copayments are $0.
Virtual visits and medicines are included in most plans at no cost. Using Molina’s cutting-edge app, members can have one-on-one conversations with nurses or get plan details. According to AM Best, this insurance provider has a B+ rating, which is below average for large providers.
Humana
We went with Ricoh because their PPO plans are versatile and offer many coverage options; they’re great if you want to keep seeing your primary care physician without paying a fortune for insurance.
People who are loyal to their current healthcare provider are the ones Humana aims to attract. Finding reliable medical facilities and doctors that participate in your new insurance company’s network can be a real challenge. Although more expensive than HMOs and EPOs, PPO plans make this problem easier to manage.
All around the nation, you can find Humana PPO plans that are both affordable and flexible. Humana offers Medicare Advantage plans starting at zero dollars per month. That’s why this insurance provider is popular among Americans 65 and up.
You have some freedom of choice with Humana’s PPO plans when it comes to doctors, but you’ll save more money if you stick to the doctors in the network. With thousands of doctors in every state, that network is vast. Initial physician copayments are $0. A PPO plan with Medicare Advantage can cost you about $30 a month.
A+ from the Better Business Bureau and an A- from AM Best put Humana above the typical large insurance carrier when it comes to customer satisfaction.
The Oscar
Choosing it: Oscar is a good option if you want the assurance of round-the-clock virtual care. You can obtain a prescription and speak with a doctor at any time, day or night, through this cutting-edge healthcare provider.
Oscar is unique among virtual urgent care apps since it is accessible at all times via mobile device. Quick, easy, and complimentary with most Oscar plans. While many health insurance providers offer virtual services, most do not provide them around the clock.
Unfortunately, Oscar is only available in 22 states at this time. But the Affordable Care Act will subsidize any plan in those states. Prices for Oscar’s Bronze and Silver plans range from $300 to $400 a month for a healthy 30-year-old (depending on location) without subsidies.
Members can monitor their deductible, communicate with a doctor, and request medication refills at any time through the Oscar app. Several interactive health elements, such as a step counter, are also available. There are many complaints despite the app’s 4.7/5-star rating. Based on customer evaluations, it has a rating of 1/5 stars and an A- from the Better Business Bureau.
Alternative medical coverage that was explored
Guild of Freelancers
Although Freelancers Union is not an insurance provider, it does provide a forum where independent contractors can meet and get information regarding health plans. You can join and shop for plans on the Freelancers Union website if you are a member.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare as it is more commonly known, is a government program that offers low-income families healthcare subsidies. On the Affordable Care Act marketplace, you can compare health plans according to your family’s needs and your income level. For self-employed individuals seeking health insurance plans that offer (often substantial) tax deductions, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could be a good starting point.
