<p>DH is losing our health insurance coverage and we are not eligible for COBRA because the plan will cease to exist as of 9/30. We have a few questions about our options.</p>
<p>I am a contract worker and wonder if there is any reason not to explore ACA small business coverage? In addition, it seems to not make sense to buy a more comprehensive plan because we will have to restart the deductible in Oct and again in Jan. Can we change again in January to one of the more comprehensive plans?</p>
<p>My questions is, are there are any types of professionals that can help us navigate this or inform us of things that we haven’t found in our research? Or, do we just have to wing it and hope we cover all our bases?</p>
<p>An insurance broker should be able to advise you and should not charge you. The broker we used at the business were I worked had a service specifically for laid-off employees. Look on the web for insurance brokers in your area and check their websites-- if they offer such a service you will find it there.</p>
<p>I doubt that you, as the sole employee of your business, are eligible for small business coverage. But as Wellspring says, a broker should help you.</p>
<p>You can buy a less comprehensive plan for this year, then change to a more comprehensive plan for 2015. That would make sense. Unless you have expensive ongoing health needs, you’ll probably be fine with minimum coverage for four months.</p>
<p>If you have doctors that you see now, and you wish to continue seeing those doctors, check that the plan you buy covers them.</p>
<p>You can definitely buy something now to get through 2014 and then choose a better long term option for 2015. I would suggest an insurance broker in your state to help you decipher the plan differences. The premiums you pay are the same whether you use a broker or not, but the broker should be able to help you choose which plan & which company works best for you.</p>