Individual & Family Health Insurance
For the self-employed, 1099 contractors, early retirees, and anyone between jobs or without coverage at work. We compare marketplace and private plans from major carriers — and explain what the fine print actually means.
The ten essential benefits every ACA-compliant plan must include — pre-existing conditions covered.
Three kinds of coverage, one honest comparison
Most people need major medical. The other two exist for specific situations — we'll tell you plainly which one is yours.
| Major Medical | Supplemental | Catastrophic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Full ACA-compliant coverage — the standard for individuals and families | Add-ons that pay cash or fill gaps: accident, critical illness, dental, vision | A low-premium, high-deductible safety net against worst-case events |
| Best for | Almost everyone buying their own coverage | Pairing with a high-deductible plan, not replacing one | Under 30, or older with a hardship exemption |
| Pre-existing conditions | Covered — can't be denied or up-charged | Varies by product — we flag the fine print | Covered, but nearly everything is behind the deductible |
| Subsidy-eligible | Yes — premium tax credits apply | No | No |
| When you can buy | Nov 1 – Jan 15, or after a life event; some private plans year-round | Year-round | Nov 1 – Jan 15, or after a life event |
Where your money actually goes in a year
Four words explain almost every plan. Here they are, in the order they hit your wallet.
Your monthly bill — due whether or not you use care. Subsidies lower this.
What you pay first each year before the plan starts sharing costs.
The split after your deductible — often the plan pays 80%, you pay 20%.
Your annual ceiling. Hit it and the plan pays 100% of covered care.
A single mother working as a 1099 healthcare contractor was paying $700 a month through a small consortium plan. On the federal marketplace, with her premium tax credit applied, we found her a great plan for under $100 a month.
Savings depend on household income and size — subsidies generally apply between 100–400% of the federal poverty level. We check yours for free before you commit to anything.
Marketplace or private?
Two honest routes — and the calendar treats them differently.
Where subsidies live. Enroll Nov 1 – Jan 15, or within 60 days of a qualifying life event.
Available year-round, sometimes with medical underwriting. A fit for some households — we'll tell you honestly if you're one of them.
Planning ahead? Start with the Open Enrollment hub.
What you get for the price of nothing
Carriers pay us when you enroll — the same either way, so our advice follows fit. You pay no more than buying direct.
Aetna to UnitedHealthcare, marketplace and private, side by side.
Minutes to check, free — and it routinely changes the answer.
Network and formulary checks before you commit, not after.
Renewals, claims questions, mid-year changes — call us, not a hotline.
The safety nets, explained honestly
Neither replaces major medical for most people. Both have a real job — here it is.
Catastrophic plans
Very low premiums, very high deductible. Free preventive care and three primary visits a year; beyond that, coverage kicks in after the deductible. Available if you're under 30, or older with a hardship exemption. A true worst-case backstop — not a plan you want to use often.
Supplemental coverage
Accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, dental and vision. These pay cash or cover specific events, softening a high deductible rather than replacing real coverage. Paired well, they're useful; sold alone, they're not health insurance — and we'll say so.
Health insurance FAQ
The same answers we give across the kitchen table — no jargon, no hedging.
