Health Care: How Reform Affects the Self-Employed BusinessWeek
I enjoyed your article on health-care reform for small business owners.I'm coming out of unemployment into full-fledged self-employment . There are two of us in the company, which is a hosting service for foreign students. Where do I turn to get health insurance through my own company? —E.Q., Bronx, N.Y.
Congratulations on starting your business. Since you have two people on the payroll, your company qualifies for small-group health insurance coverage. (Partners and employees working at least 30 hours per week count in that calculation, but independent contractors do not.) If the annual pay for you and your partner doesn't exceed $50,000 apiece for the next few years, you'll also likely qualify for the 35% tax credit for small business owners that provide medical benefits under the new health-care reform law.
Your first step is to find a reputable insurance broker. You can search the database of the National Association of Health Underwriters or better yet, ask other business owners you know for referrals.
