When you leave traditional employment, you have several primary coverage avenues to explore depending on your budget and health history.
Primary Health Insurance Pathways
- ACA Marketplace Plans (HealthCare.gov): Guaranteed issue with no pre-existing condition exclusions and essential health benefits.
- HSA-Qualified High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP): Allows you to invest pre-tax money into a Health Savings Account for triple-tax advantages.
- Professional Association Health Plans: Freelancers Union or industry trade associations offering group-negotiated rates.
- Short-Term Medical Plans: Low-cost bridge coverage, though they generally exclude pre-existing conditions and prescription medications.
Peer-Reviewed Clinical & Policy Sources
- Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). Comparing Private Individual Market vs. ACA Guaranteed-Issue Plans. KFF Report.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Essential Health Benefit Benchmarks. CMS Health Policy.