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Health Insurance for bootstrapped founders in the US

2 points by buzzthro ↗ HN
I left my job a week ago and I'm based out of California. My employer's health insurance runs till the end of the month and after that I need to figure something out. I'm a solo founder right now just coding and bootstrapping everything.

These are the health insurance options I've come across so far:

1. Cobra (ends up being $900 per month in my case)

2. Any option at coveredca.com. The lowest priced high deductible plans are still around $475 or so. I don't qualify for much of any subsidy due to the salary I've made for the first half of 2023.

3. Incorporate a Delaware c-corp or an LLC and buy group insurance as a single founder. I believe California allows this but someone correct me if I'm wrong. I looked a few options and they don't seem to be any better or cheaper than the ones on coveredca.com.

Is there anything else that people do now that it's 2023 that I'm missing? Can't believe how pricey health insurance is without an employer for what's basically bare bones coverage that doesn't protect you financially from anything besides you getting hit by a bus!

4 comments

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solardev
Do you have income at all right now? Can you apply for Medi-cal (state health care)?

If you have a spouse or domestic partner, can you join their plan instead?

Otherwise, yeah, American healthcare is just fucked. One of the great downsides of living here.

buzzthro
Nope. No income right now. But my expected income for 2023 (the first six months I've worked at the very least) puts me outside of MediCal subsidies.

Spouse was on my health insurance. She works as a part time government contractor. No benefits.

solardev
Sorry man, rough spot to be in. I'm in a similar boat and there's no easy way around it that I know of.

Might just have to be something you write off once you start making money...