Best Health Insurance for the Self-Employed

• Average individual monthly premium (silver plan): $433
• Average annual deductible (silver plan): $3,375
• Customer complaints: Fewer than expected for company size

Kaiser Permanente offers low monthly premiums, receives few customer complaints, and has a highly rated mobile app. This means you save money and can manage your health care on the go, making it an excellent choice for self-employed people.

Kaiser Permanente is Investopedia’s top pick for health insurance when you’re self-employed. Its average premiums for families were the lowest in our review at $1,513.

State regulators received fewer complaints about Kaiser than expected for a company its size, which is a good indicator of customer satisfaction. Its selection of eight medical management programs to oversee treatment for conditions like diabetes and pregnancy is tied for the highest among the companies Investopedia reviewed. Kaiser also has a top-rated mobile app you can use to find doctors, schedule appointments, and pay bills, making managing your health care easier. 

However, there’s a catch: Kaiser only sells plans in Washington, D.C., and eight states (California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington). Also, it doesn’t offer preferred provider organization (PPO) plans on the health insurance marketplace, so you might be unable to use your doctor if they’re not in Kaiser’s network. So, before you sign up, check if Kaiser’s available in your area and if your doctor is in its network.

Kaiser Permanente was founded in 1945 and is based in Oakland, California.

• Average individual monthly premium (silver plan): $426
• Average annual deductible (silver plan): $3,640
• Customer complaints: Many more than expected for company size

Molina has competitive premiums and low copays for prescriptions and doctor visits, so you’ll pay less overall for health care each month and when you need treatment.

Self-employed people with irregular income need to be careful about spending. If that’s you, Molina Healthcare is worth considering. It offers the cheapest overall health insurance in Investopedia’s study when considering copays, deductibles, premiums, and out-of-pocket maximums. So you’ll probably pay less than you would with other companies.

However, you might not get the best customer service. Molina received more complaints than expected for a company of its size on average over the past three years. It also doesn’t offer PPO plans, so seeing doctors outside Molina’s network may be more expensive. Make sure your doctor is in Molina’s network before you sign up.

Molina Healthcare was founded in 1980 and is based in Long Beach, California.

• Average individual monthly premium (silver plan): $433
• Average annual deductible (silver plan): $3,866
• Customer complaints: As many as expected for company size

Anthem offers affordable health insurance and many coverage options. Its highly rated Sydney Health app can help you manage your health care, too.

Anthem is another smart choice if you’re self-employed and looking for affordable health insurance. Molina Healthcare is cheaper, but Anthem is better for other reasons.

It provides five different levels of coverage (known as metal tiers) on the marketplace, from inexpensive but basic catastrophic plans to comprehensive gold plans with higher premiums. Aetna’s offering of multiple metal-tier plans makes it easier to match your budget and health care needs.

Overall, Anthem stands out for its combination of low costs and extra features. It’s the second-cheapest option in Investopedia’s review when considering premiums, deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, and other out-of-pocket expenses. It has a top-ranked mobile app to help you manage your health care, too.

However, it’s only available in 14 states and doesn’t offer PPO plans. It receives about as many customer complaints as expected.

Anthem is part of Elevance Health, which was founded in 1946 and is based in Indianapolis. While Anthem is a BCBS licensee, we reviewed it as a separate company because the two compete in some markets.

• Average individual monthly premium (silver plan): $578
• Average annual deductible (silver plan): $3,183
• Customer complaints: Fewer than expected for company size

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) is a good option if you’re a digital nomad who needs flexible health coverage. It’s available in 32 states, plus Washington, D.C., and sells PPO plans that allow you to get out-of-network care and see doctors wherever your work takes you. 

If you’re a digital nomad whose office is wherever there’s Wi-Fi, Blue Cross Blue Shield might be a great choice. It offers plans in 32 states, more than any other insurer Investopedia reviewed. If you move to a state in BCBS’ coverage area, you can likely stick with BCBS and avoid the hassle of switching health insurance. BCBS’s PPO plans let you see doctors outside its network, which is helpful when your work takes you across the country.

BCBS also gives you six plan options on the marketplace, including catastrophic, bronze, expanded bronze, silver, gold, and platinum plans. But there’s a catch: BCBS is more expensive, on average, than other options. And since BCBS is actually a group of companies, your experience might vary depending on your location and insurer.

Blue Cross Blue Shield was founded in 1929 and is based in Chicago.