Health insurance if you're self-employed (2026)
If you're self-employed you can buy a plan on the individual marketplace, where you also find out if you qualify for a tax credit (HealthCare.gov: Health coverage if you're self-employed). The typical marketplace Silver plan costs $715 a month for one 40-year-old before tax credits.
What a marketplace plan costs
| Household | Typical Bronze | Typical Silver | Silver, yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| One adult, 30 | $487 | $635 | $7,619 |
| One adult, 40 | $548 | $715 | $8,579 |
| One adult, 50 | $766 | $999 | $11,989 |
| One adult, 60 | $1,164 | $1,518 | $18,219 |
| Couple, both 40 | $1,096 | $1,430 | $17,158 |
| Family of 4: couple, 40, children 10 and 8 | $1,752 | $2,286 | $27,429 |
U.S. typical (median) price at 40 (CMS public use files (plan year prices), as processed on our methodology page) times the federal default age curve (CMS: state specific age curve variations), used in 42 states. Before tax credits. Pick your state for every plan where you live.
Lowering the cost
- Tax credits. Your marketplace application shows if you qualify for premium tax credits and other savings, based on income and household size (HealthCare.gov: Health coverage if you're self-employed).
- The self-employed health insurance deduction. IRS Form 7206 figures any deduction you may be able to claim (IRS: About Form 7206, Self-Employed Health Insurance Deduction).
- Metal level. Bronze has the lowest premiums and the highest costs when you get care; see Bronze vs. Silver vs. Gold.
Health sharing is not insurance
Some self-employed people look at health sharing programs, from $115 a month. Not insurance There is no yearly out-of-pocket cap, pre-existing conditions are often excluded, and tax credits do not apply. Compare them in health sharing vs. health insurance.
Health sharing is not insurance
- No guarantee. Sharing is voluntary. The program can decline to share a bill, and payment of your medical bills is not guaranteed.
- Not regulated as insurance. ACA consumer protections do not apply, and you cannot get ACA premium tax credits for it.
- No legal yearly cap. There is no out-of-pocket maximum. Each new medical need can mean paying the amount you pay first (the IUA) again.
Frequently asked questions
How much does health insurance cost if you're self-employed?
The same as for anyone buying their own plan: for one 40-year-old before tax credits the typical marketplace Bronze plan is $548 a month and the typical Silver plan $715. A family of four (parents 40, children 10 and 8) pays about $2,286 for typical Silver. Your price depends on your state, county and ages, and a tax credit can lower it.
Can self-employed people get a tax credit on health insurance?
Yes, if they qualify. When you apply on the marketplace you find out if you qualify for premium tax credits and other savings, based on your income and household size (HealthCare.gov).
Is health insurance tax deductible if you're self-employed?
You may be able to deduct it. The IRS's Form 7206 and its instructions figure any self-employed health insurance deduction you can claim, reported on Schedule 1 of Form 1040 (IRS). Check the rules or ask a tax professional.
Is health sharing an option for the self-employed?
Health sharing programs are not insurance: payment of your bills is not guaranteed, there is no yearly out-of-pocket cap, and tax credits do not apply. They start at $115 a month for one adult; see our comparison guide before choosing one.