Self-employed Health Insurance: Best Types for Every Freelancer

20 March 2019

Working as a freelancer can be a rewarding experience, but you can’t ignore the importance of health insurance. Some people consider it a drawback because they have to manage their health insurance plan. There is no need to worry because you can get some good plans. Fortunately, some online platforms like carefulcents.com help you to pick a suitable self-employed health plan. Here are some good options that may work for you:

Federal/State Marketplace:

The marketplace for health insurance provides you with excellent coverage option. If you are working as a freelancer, you can enroll through an appropriate plan. A freelancer, consultant, independent workers, and other contractors can get several options. Fortunately, several categories are available with low premiums. Your savings may depend on the projected net income.

Plans with Higher Deductible and Lower Premiums:

These types of plans can be an excellent option for people who need something affordable. While paying a lower premium, you can get the advantage of higher deductibles. It can be beneficial to work with this type of plan in your good health. If you are not prone to traumas or unexpected accidents, these plans are great for you.

Medicaid:

Millions of Americans can get the advantage of free coverage and low cost through Medicaid. These options are suitable for families with low income, seniors and people with disabilities. You can get suitable Medicaid as per your income. Make sure to consider the regulations of your state to pick appropriate insurance. This program is free from open enrollment periods so that you can apply without any restriction.

Plan for Family Coverage:

A few states allow you to get the advantage of a domestic partnership without a legal marriage. If you are sharing a room or house with your partner, you can get the benefit of family coverage. You will be eligible for this plan until you or your partner is not married to anyone else.

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA):

COBRA guarantees you stipend to remain under the health insurance plan of your employer provisionally. Some plans are associated with a decrease in your employment. As per the U.S. Labor Department, you have to follow some eligibility requirements. COBRA couldn’t be a wise option if a person were not formally employed.

Private Insurance:

Some people need special healthcare coverage for chronic illness and other problems. If you need a particular insurance plan, make sure to check the details of a policy to find a suitable cover. A private insurance company can help you in the selection of a strong cover. Make sure to figure out important details before finalizing health coverage.

Interest Groups:

The national association for self-employed may provide excellent support to freelancers. You can access life insurance policies and health saving accounts after getting your membership. The fee for annual membership may vary between $25 and $120 for students and general members. Freelancers can save money at famous stores, such as QuickBooks and Office Depot. Moreover, the health association for underwriters represents more than 100,000 insurance agents. They can help you in the selection of an affordable healthcare plan.

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A Comprehensive Guide to Law Firm Finance in 2021

Have you been practicing law for a while? Today, many lawyers are stepping into the entrepreneurship world to open their law firms. Indeed, practicing under experienced lawyers gives a lot of exposure but having autonomy at work is equally vital. You can choose clients and legal cases of your choice and practice in a particular area. Likewise, you can enjoy flexibility and freedom, make decisions, and set your priorities. However, most lawyers don’t understand that starting a law firm is more than practicing law. Apart from legal responsibilities, you have to recruit people, market the law firm, and most importantly, manage finances. You have to document a long-term financial strategy to stay on top of your daily budget and earn profits. At the same time, you have to manage taxes, acquire funding, handle invoices, and much more. To help you get started, here is a comprehensive guide to law firm finance in 2021. 1. Create a Long-Term Financial Strategy: As a law firm owner, you have to establish a vision for the firm’s future. Do you picture a multi-lawyer firm handing corporate clients? Or you want to step into litigation or criminal law? Having a clear idea of long-term goals will help in creating a well-defined financial strategy. You can start putting funds aside for expansion from the beginning. Likewise, you have to keep up with numbers, forecasts, and budgets to manage the day-to-day cash flow. You have to ensure the business has enough funds to secure new clients and take cases to trial. After all, not every case settles. However, if you don’t have a knack for numbers, consider learning the ropes. You can look for virtual programs such as MSF online to avoid the hassle of traveling to college. After all, online education gives students a lot of flexibility, motivating them to keep learning. As for your law firm, it will help in managing finances efficiently while practicing law. 2. Get Access to Funding: Although you are stepping into a service business, you will need a hefty amount of capital and cash to start a law firm. From office rentals, conference rooms, stationary costs to staffing – you will come across a long list of expenses. Therefore, look for ways to obtain capital for your law firm. Here are some of the options you can explore. Savings: Whenever starting a business, make sure a small chunk of the capital comes from personal savings. That way, you will keep working in the game because you won’t be liable to another person when things get tough. Bank Loan: You can start with a few thousand dollars, but more capital gives lawyers enough runway to make the business profitable. Hence, if your savings don’t seem sufficient, opt for a bank loan or open a credit line to raise capital. Startup Incubators: Today, many incubators connect new business owners with funding to get going. Often, they use their contacts with angel investors to fund new businesses or seek help from venture capitalists. 3. Manage Taxes: Most attorneys operating law firms aren’t aware of legal obligations. As a result, taxes hit them in surprising ways. You might get a call from Internal Revenue System (IRS) or a hefty fine for missing the deadline. Similarly, many lawyers have difficulty categorizing deductibles. You might think everything is deductible, whereas your tax liability is higher than you predicted. These pitfalls not only halt business operations but are super pricey too. Hence, consider bringing an experienced tax specialist on board. However, if you don’t have a budget for additional hiring, learn about the taxation policies yourself. It doesn’t mean you have to go back to school; instead, look for online programs. You can opt for an online LLM tax program and learn from the comfort of your home and office. It will help you plan for tax liability, closing doors for IRS audit, and incorrect tax deductions. 4. Streamline Invoicing & Payment System: Usually, lawyers have different payment policies. When dealing with corporate clients, they charge a monthly fee and have separate legal charges for cases. On the other hand, they don’t charge when fighting for accident victims until the negligent party’s proven guilty. Despite having different payment policies, you must have an appropriate invoicing and payment system at the firm. You can leverage savvy software to automate the firm’s finances. Moreover, record your income correctly. If you charge a retainer fee, treat it as an advance payment and track its spending on every case. Similarly, avoid recording any income in your financials until you have won the case. It will give you a realistic view of the firm’s financial position, making sure you are on the right track. Besides this, don’t forget to set flexible billing terms with the clients and discuss everything upfront to avoid issues later. 5. Prepare Budgets, Reports, & KPIs: Having a budget is imperative for your law firm’s financial success. You have to estimate your expenses and the revenue you expect to earn. It will give you a solid idea of how much you should work to make the business profitable. Likewise, you have to prepare financials to catch a glimpse of profitability. Well, to begin effective financial reporting, you have to start with the bookkeeping basics. You have to record all financial transactions and maintain a separate account for every client. After this, you can prepare an income statement and balance sheet to determine the law firm’s equity. Also, create a cash flow statement to understand how much cash goes out and comes into the business. All these financials will be a brilliant source of insights about your law firm. You can spot trends, overcome weaknesses, and capitalize on your strengths to make the business more profitable. Final Thoughts: Every successful law firm considers numbers and data first. You have to create an excellent financial plan with a growth vision to make your law firm successful. Similarly, you have to manage cash flow, follow a detailed billing process, and raise sufficient capital. As you progress forward, a strong financial position will unfold new growth opportunities. You can tap into new practice areas, offer more services, and expand your team. Read Also: How To Choose A Practice Management Software For Your Law Firm How Do Law Firms Help Companies with Their Real Estate Issues?

How Intranet Services Can Make Your Financial Institution More Effective

Successful banks, credit unions, and financial institutions have long relied on strong internal communications to effectively manage day-to-day operations, plan for the future, and respond to problems as they arise. A team that is empowered to share knowledge, experience, and data will be more resilient in the face of challenges and more capable of exercising initiative, and implementing effective communication strategies and protocols is especially important in the financial industry, where the risks are as high as the potential rewards. This is why many financial institutions rely on intranet services to ensure a secure, seamless operation that ensures a constant flow of information between analysts, investors, client relations, and service workers. Intranet services essentially function as internal web pages that allow organizations and businesses to network and communicate more effectively, and a good intranet site gives every employee access to superior communication and database tools. Most intranet sites are designed to meet three basic needs: providing employees access to documents, workflow charts, and protocols, helping employees complete tasks and connecting employees with each other. By providing usable tools and easy navigation routes, the intranet makes workers more efficient and strengthens morale by improving employee engagement. Despite the many benefits of intranet sites, one of their biggest downsides has traditionally been the large investment of time and resources needed to get an intranet site up and running. Large intranet providers like SharePoint typically build sites from the ground up, which not only requires significant startup costs but also makes it necessary to have a dedicated IT team to maintain it once it is in place. Fortunately, there are alternatives that are easier to develop and less demanding to run. Providers like Intranet Connections have made a name for themselves by designing intranet sites that are tailored to the particular needs of the banking and finance industry (as well as business and healthcare) but which are less costly to install and more intuitive to operate. The solutions provided by Intranet Connections are tailored to the needs of particular industries, but they are also easy to operate even for those who are not IT specialists, which means they do not require constant IT support to run. This is particularly valuable for financial institutions because it means that managers and others in key leadership positions can handle operational issues as they arise instead of needing to refer them to specialists. The value such services can provide to established and emerging banks and financial services providers should not be overstated: a recent article in American Banker noted that digital banking technologies have unleashed a wave of innovation and disruption that poses serious threats to the old way of doing things. With smaller financial companies making a compelling pitch to younger demographics and nascent AI technologies creating uncertainty for the future, financial institutions of all sizes need to make their operations leaner and more efficient. Increasingly, financial organizations that do not adopt the latest intranet solutions are in danger of falling behind the innovation curve. By providing streamlined, flexible solutions to internal communications, intranet solutions are making banks more competitive, more effective, and better prepared for the challenges of doing business in the 21st century. Read Also: Why Personal Lenders Like SkyCap Financial Provide A Better Lending Experience Benefits Of NBFC Business Loans

Insure Your Health, Ensure Your Wealth: How To Dodge Common Insurance Blunders

Healthcare costs are skyrocketing, and this era is also witness to relentless medical inflation contributing to increasing concern. Concern regarding what? You may ask. The concerns regarding the finances and ourselves are taking the wheel. Each year, people and their families struggle to navigate the complex health insurance structure. They are often face-to-face with pitfalls that drain their finances. This, in turn, compromises their health and well-being. The only fitting way to combat this is through proper knowledge and foresight, which can help avoid common insurance mistakes. Financial and health stability should also be kept in check. The following article will explore practical ways to avoid these pitfalls and secure a healthier, brighter future. Common Mistakes When Buying A Health Insurance Plan When you think of buying health insurance, there are high stakes you may miss. Overlooking key details or inadequate coverage can cause significant financial strain compromising healthcare. Unfortunately, several individuals often find themselves in traps, which may be due to an oversight or a misunderstanding. The following section will dissect some of the most prevalent health insurance mistakes. It also provides insight into each of these mistakes, guiding ways to avoid them: Insufficient Coverage One of the biggest mistakes you can make is choosing health insurance with insufficient coverage. It is common for the desire to save on premiums to drive our decisions; however, as an individual, you may choose plans that provide limited protection. There have also been cases where individuals have unexpected medical expenses, leaving them vulnerable. Thus, it is important to carefully assess the healthcare needs, including future scenarios, before selecting a plan that provides adequate coverage. These should include surgeries, hospitalization, specialist consultations, and medications. Avoiding A Comprehensive Cover This is another common mistake that has been seen in recent times. Not choosing a comprehensive health insurance plan can make you miss out on coverage of potential medical emergencies. Some health insurance plans with basic coverage will not even consider chronic conditions that can have significant effects. Comprehensive plans, if the name did not suggest so, offer broad coverage such as preventive care, maternity benefits, and mental health services, among others. Choosing a broad coverage plan gives us peace of mind that we’ll be protected against unforeseen health circumstances. Not Disclosing All Medical Conditions. Failing to disclose or hide pre-existing medical conditions during the application process can lead to serious consequences. The insurers depend on specific information that allows them to evaluate the risks, thus determining premiums. Some of the dire consequences of obscuring medical information include: Denial of claim Policy cancellation So, being transparent while applying for health insurance will only help you reap the benefits in the long run. This is helpful when you want to ensure complete coverage while also avoiding any complications when the time comes to claim the policy. Overlooking Terms And Conditions Shockingly, a significant number of policyholders make the mistake of ignoring the fine print on their health insurance policy. The fine print contains terms and conditions that lead to misunderstandings about crucial information such as the coverage limit. This can also include waiting periods, exclusions, and claim procedures. Thus, it is very important to review the policy document, seeking clarity on any ambiguous terms and understanding the coverage scope and limitations. You will also learn about your obligations as a policyholder. Not Comparing Plans One of the most critical errors you can make while purchasing a health insurance plan is choosing the first one you see. When buying anything, it is best to compare before you finalize your decision. Why should something as important as a health insurance plan be neglected? An insurer offers different coverage options, deductibles, and premiums, along with network providers. Missing out on comparing different health insurance plans can cause you to lose benefits that would suit you better. You must take appropriate time to research and compare the different policies available. This way, you will be able to compare important factors such as coverage limits, cost, network size, and customer reviews. Lastly, comparing plans can prevent you from overpaying for coverage. Insufficient Research This continues on the point of missing benefits as one of the results you want to avoid. If you rush to buy a health insurance plan without sufficient research, you can have serious FOMO later. You must research different insurance providers and learn more about their reputations through reviews and financial stability. You should also look into their customer service track record. Research also helps you learn about the types of plans available, such as PPOs, HMOs, and high-deductible plans. This way, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your budget and preferences. Missing Cashless Hospital Networks The availability of cashless hospitals should be missed as it will be a huge oversight on your part. Missing this during a health insurance plan purchase can seem like a huge loss later. Choosing a policy without verifying the network of hospitals with cashless treatment as an option can prove to be inconvenient for you. This can put pressure on you during an emergency as it will push out-of-pocket expenses. Thus, you must check for the availability of cashless hospitals in its network. Having reputed hospitals in or near your area will be a bonus. This allows you smooth access to quality healthcare that does not pose the problem of upfront payment. Additionally, reimbursement claims too. Therefore, you must check if your insurer has a network that also boasts of cashless hospitals. This will help you avoid strain on your finances, reducing your worries. Purchasing Only In Old Age Despite being a common practice, health insurance purchases should not be postponed to old age. Aging is a natural process that brings about many changes in the human body. Several health issues pose a challenge in acquiring good health insurance. Waiting until health problems arise will result in higher premiums because of pre-existing conditions, and it may also introduce exclusions. Thus, you are advised to invest in a health insurance plan as early as possible to enjoy lower premiums and more accessible coverage. This further ensures comprehensive protection for life. Conclusion Health insurance plans can be complex, and you must make informed decisions to find peace of mind and financial security. This article highlights all the key areas you must take care of, prioritizing comprehensive coverage, thorough research, and transparency. Buying a health insurance plan? Remember that the right choice will help you live a wealthier and healthier tomorrow. Read Also: Why You Need Commercial Property Insurance The Comprehensive Guide To Property Insurance Toronto How To Choose The Right Insurance Plan For Business Owners

Self-employed Health Insurance: Best Types for Every Freelancer

Federal/State Marketplace:

Plans with Higher Deductible and Lower Premiums:

Medicaid:

Plan for Family Coverage:

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA):

Private Insurance:

Interest Groups:

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Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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A Comprehensive Guide to Law Firm Finance in 2021

How Intranet Services Can Make Your Financial Institution More Effective

Insure Your Health, Ensure Your Wealth: How To Dodge Common Insurance Blunders

Self-employed Health Insurance: Best Types for Every Freelancer

Federal/State Marketplace:

Plans with Higher Deductible and Lower Premiums:

Medicaid:

Plan for Family Coverage:

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA):

Private Insurance:

Interest Groups:

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Home Sweet Home Improvement: How to Find the Best Home Improvement Loans

7 Foolproof Ways to Increase Your Chances of Finding Startup Funding

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related