Health Insurance for the Self-Employed in New York
October 19, 2026 ยท 4 min read
When you work for yourself there is no human resources department to enroll you in a plan. Coverage becomes your decision, and it comes with several routes worth comparing.
New York licensed agent and broker
NY State of Health is New York's official marketplace for individual and family coverage. Financial help is available to people who qualify based on income and household size. Check the current enrollment dates on the marketplace itself, because some life events let you enroll outside the usual period.
A spouse or partner's employer plan may be an option if it is offered to dependents. Some business owners with employees can consider a small group plan. Each route has different costs, networks and rules.
Health insurance pays for medical care. It does not replace your income if you cannot work. For the self-employed, that second risk can matter as much as the first. Disability income insurance is designed to replace part of your earnings during an illness or injury, and supplemental accident or critical illness plans can add cash benefits on top of main coverage. They are not a substitute for comprehensive health insurance.
Which doctors and hospitals do you want to keep? What are your regular prescriptions? What deductible could you pay in a bad year? Does your income vary from month to month, and could that affect your eligibility for financial help? Who else is on the plan?
We explain the routes and the deadlines, and where we are appointed we compare what we can offer. Enrollment in marketplace and public programs happens through the State or an authorized assister. If the right answer is a program we do not sell, we will say so.
Can I deduct health insurance premiums as a self-employed person?
Tax treatment depends on your situation. Please ask your accountant. We do not give tax advice.
Is supplemental coverage enough on its own?
No. It pays set benefits for covered events and is not designed to replace comprehensive coverage.
By Ardi Shita, New York licensed agent and broker (NPN 22062424), The Rothswell Agency LLC. Published October 19, 2026. General information, not advice. Laws, programs and deadlines change, so confirm current details before you act.
We work in your best interest. At or before the time of application we will tell you whether we are acting as your broker or as the insurer's agent, and whether we receive compensation from the insurer. You can ask for details of our compensation at any time (New York Regulation 194).
Talk to us
Call 646 821 3520 or send a note. We will reply from our Madison Avenue office.