The ability to obtain health insurance, for the self-employed, in the state of New York is determined by what group, sometimes referred to as a pool or marketplace, you, as an individual, fall into.Because New York State uses a rating system that uses a community base, rather than an individual base to determine your rating, you will fall into one of four categories. You will be either classified as an individual, self employed, working in a small company of 50 or less employees, for a large company with 50 or more employees.Within the self-employed category, there are typically two options. The first is to seek insurance individually from an insurance company. This option, for most self-employed people, is cost prohibitive. Although insurance companies in New York State are required to offer health insurance to all who apply, they are free within limits to set the rate, or premium, that they as a company, believe is reasonable. Based on all the factors that affect the costs of health insurance, and the company’s inability to assess you, as an individual, even one in perfect health, the company’s are forced to give you a price quote that would be comparable to a person in ill health. This is not a factor that is within the control of the insurance companies.Another option as the self-employed individual, is to join a group or business association, that, allows you, as a member, the opportunity to apply for group insurance as a member of this organization. The organizations charge a fee to become a member.One example of this type of organization is the freelancers union. This group also advocates for self employed workers in areas of health insurance, tax relief, and other benefits generally available to workers employed in larger companies.Another factor that affects, to some degree, the cost of group health insurance is that not all insurance companies are required to offer group insurance to these associations. Among those who do, are Atlantis, GHI (an Emblem Health Company), the PerfectHealth insurance company, HIP( an Emblem Health Comany), Empire, and Oxford.In addition to all the above restrictions not all companies are available to self-employed workers in all counties. Some excellent web sites are available to assist the self-employed worker to find the right health insurance plan. To begin the search for a health insurance plan that best suits you, go to Vista Health Solutions.

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