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The following is a guest post from Dena White, discussion health insurance for freelance writers and other Web workers.

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For many, becoming a self-employed webpreneur is everything they could ever want. When you are a self-employed web worker, you will enjoy benefits that include, but are certainly not limited to, working your own hours, being rewarded for the work that you do and for most, no longer making the commute back and forth to a job you hate.

However, as anyone who has worked for themselves for any length of time will tell you, life is not always greener on their side of the fence. Hurdles pop up that must be overcome when you are self-employed that are different from those that you face when you work for someone else.

Health Insurance Matters

The area that often gets the most attention is health insurance. When it comes to benefits such as health insurance, small businesses and self-employed web workers are often at a disadvantage when compared to larger corporations. In the United States, the majority of people get health insurance through their employers.

Several people believe that the benefits are better and cost lest when they are associated with a health insurance plan that is sponsored by an employer. However, you would be incorrect in assuming that these healthcare plans sponsored by employers are always superior.

Getting The Most For Your Health Insurance Money

The decision about how much money you plan to spend on healthcare coverage each month is one of the biggest decisions you will make. Once you have that number in your head, you will need to know how to get the best coverage for your particular budget. These tips should help:

1. Do not pay any attention to the marketing extras that you may be offered such as massages, club memberships and other “bonus gifts”. These gifts will only add to the cost of your coverage, and probably nothing you need anyway.
2. It may be advantageous to purchase coverage only for emergency needs beyond check-ups, dental care and prescriptions. Designate a specific portion of your budget for basic medical expenses.
3. You may be able to save quite a bit on premium payments over time by selecting a higher deductible. Carefully put away a certain amount of money every month depending on your budget, you will eventually build up enough funds to pay off the deductible should you ever need medical care.
4. Research the Internet for a number of websites specializing in displaying several offers from multiple providers by submitting your basic information once. This is a powerful tool because it allows you to compare offers from different providers without having to bounce around from website to website. According to the plan that you choose, you may be able to proceed with purchasing the policy online without a physical exam. Just type “health insurance” in you preferred search engine to begin.
5. Prior to paying for any policy, ensure that you are dealing with a legitimate provider that will honor your policy. Remember, anything that sounds too good to be true probably is, especially when it come to health insurance. Go to the Internet for help. Enter “[company name] complaints” or the like in your favorite search engine to find any major problems with the provider you choose.
6. You may want to consider a membership with a union or trade association that provides benefits, such as the Freelancers Union and Sam’s Club.
7. Bundling your insurances is also an option. If you are able to locate a provider that offers policies for all of you healthcare needs, you may be able to get a better rate.

Now you can see that being self-employed may in fact be an advantage because you can research to save money as well as tailor the coverage to meet your specific needs. As a self-employed web worker, it’s up to you to maintain your good health in all ways. Getting a good insurance program at an affordable cost is the first step in that healthier, happier direction.

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Dena White is a freelance author and writes about healthcare career topics, such as how to obtain an online nursing degree, tips for job advancement, and more.

Related posts:

1. Freelance Writers: Your Thoughts on Health Insurance for the Self-Employed
2. Demand Studios Health Insurance – Objective Overview of FlexShield Benefits
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4. 10 Costly Money Mistakes Freelancers Should Avoid
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About the Author: Jennifer Mattern

Browse all posts from this author.

Jenn Mattern is a professional blogger and freelance business writer. She owns All Freelance Writing as well as several other sites and blogs covering PR, small business, and related topic areas. She is also currently writing a nonfiction book for freelance writers called The Query-Free Freelancer, and is the author of the Web Writer's Guide e-book series.