Expanding Insurance Options For Self-Employed

What's one of the biggest complaints made by freelancers and consultants who have given up a steady 9-5 job to go out on their own? It's the lack of available and affordable health care. (What other complaint would there be?) Well, another insurance company has stepped up to the plate with an attempt to expand coverage options for the self-employed. Today, Humana announced the expansion of its HumanaOne health insurance plans, designed specifically for the self-employed, small business owner and part-time employee. The insurance is supposed to be very competitive, with options similar to those offered to employees by large companies, but also affordable. Monthly rates are even locked in for a year (based on meeting a few qualifications, of course). The program was originally introduced in 15 states, and is now being expanded to nine more states.

Company representatives noted that the market for individual health insurance plans in the U.S. is at 18 million and growing. "This new portfolio of products positions HumanaOne to serve a much larger portion of the individual health insurance market, which we believe will continue to grow at a rate of five to eight percent annually over the next five years," said Steve DeRaleau, chief operating officer of HumanaOne, in a press release statement. "As more people leave group health plans, retire early, become self-employed or work part-time, they will increasingly look to individual health plans, and HumanaOne will be there to serve them with a plan ideally suited to their distinct needs."

While there's no guarantee that this set of health insurance plan options will be the best for everyone, simply having another option on the table is a step in the right direction.