| p>Florida residents that are self employed and looking | | | | employed person functioning as a sole proprietor in the |
| for health insurance have a number of options | | | | state of Florida then you have a different option open |
| available to them. Be aware that depending upon your | | | | to you - see option 3 below). The benefit to applying |
| health, your age, and other factors unique to your | | | | for a Florida small group health insurance policy is that |
| particular situation there is no hard and fast rule as to | | | | that certain health issues that can signal an automatic |
| which option is best for you. However, there are some | | | | decline on the individual health insurance side will not |
| general guidelines that will help you make the best | | | | signal an automatic decline on the group health |
| Florida self employed health insurance decision. | | | | insurance side. |
| The first Florida health insurance option available to the | | | | The downside to attempting to purchase a group |
| self employed is to simply apply for an individual health | | | | health insurance policy in the state of Florida is that it |
| insurance policy. The benefit to applying for an | | | | can be very expensive. Think of it in terms of: the |
| individual health insurance policy is that individual health | | | | more potentially unhealthy people that the insurance |
| insurance rates in Florida are very competitive. | | | | company has to give health insurance to (group health |
| The downside to attempting to purchase an individual | | | | insurance) the higher the premiums will be as opposed |
| health insurance policy in the state of Florida is that you | | | | to where the insurance company can pick and choose |
| must be healthy. According to FL law, a health | | | | who they will accept for health insurance (individual |
| insurance company can decline your application for an | | | | health insurance). |
| individual health insurance policy based on prior medical | | | | The third Florida health insurance option available to the |
| history (pre-existing conditions), height and weight | | | | self employed is for those that are functioning as a |
| restrictions, and other health related criteria. | | | | sole proprietor. Florida self employed sole proprietors |
| That means if you have cancer, diabetes, weight | | | | can apply for a Florida guaranteed issue small group |
| problems, or a host of other physical ailments then you | | | | health plan. The Florida guaranteed issue small group |
| will be denied coverage with a Florida individual health | | | | health plans has an open enrollment period only during |
| insurance policy. (Any unscrupulous agent that tries to | | | | the month of August. |
| tell you other wise is misrepresenting whatever | | | | Florida self employed health insurance can be a |
| product he or she is trying to sell you as health | | | | somewhat tricky area to navigate without the help of |
| insurance when in fact it is probably a discount health | | | | a licensed independent Florida health insurance agent. |
| plan or a health insurance indemnity plan with very | | | | There are also many different ways to save money in |
| limited coverage). | | | | taxes - one of which being the ability to deduct your |
| The second Florida health insurance option available to | | | | health insurance premiums paid on Schedule C of your |
| the self employed is to apply for a Florida group health | | | | tax return against and up to your Schedule C income |
| insurance plan. In Florida, any group of 2 employer | | | | (Meaning that even if you don't itemize [Schedule A] |
| employees or more is considered eligible for a Florida | | | | you can still deduct your health insurance premiums |
| small group health insurance. (If it is just you: 1 self | | | | paid all the way up to your Schedule C income!). |