Health Insurance for Freelance Graphic Designers

By Sarah Clark
Sarah.clark@graphicdesignschoolreview.com
Graphic Design School Review Columnist

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an estimated 45 million people in the United States were without health insurance coverage in 2003. Most Americans are covered through an employer's health insurance plan, but if you're a graphic designer with a solo career, you're on your own in finding health care coverage. But don't despair; there are plans available for people like you.

It goes without saying that health insurance coverage is a necessity of life, even for freelance graphic designers; you never know when you might need it and a night or two in a hospital can cost tens of thousands of dollars., leaving you in a financial mess if you don't possess vast wealth or a good health insurance plan.

Shopping for Insurance: An Unpleasant Job Made Easy

Health insurance providers make a profit by covering large groups of people. This allows them to spread risk more evenly. If you're searching for a plan for yourself, you might encounter higher deductibles and premiums. For this reason, it's best to try to join a group that offers health insurance. Groups like the Graphic Artists Guild and other graphic design or professional arts organizations may offer group health plans to people with careers like yours, people without traditional graphic design jobs in the corporate world.

Individual Health Plans for Graphic Designers

However, if you're set on getting an individual health care plan, there are many Web sites that contain useful information on insurance providers and plans for the jobless and self-employed. A few of them include:

At Health Insurance you can get immediate free health insurance quotes from a variety of companies. For general information about health insurance, such as the types of benefits to look for, go to America's Health Insurance Plans. The Georgetown University Health Policy Institute's Web site, Health Insurance Info, provides consumer information about health insurance scams and guides to dealing with disputes with health insurance companies.

Don't let the woes of health insurance coverage discourage you from pursuing a career as a freelance graphic designer, or quitting your job to start your own graphic design business. Health insurance is a significant cost, but if you're willing to pay a higher premium or take a higher deductible, you'll find that it's probably within your means. And once your career as a freelance graphic designer plateaus, you'll be in good shape to upgrade to a plan with more benefits.

Sources:

U.S. Census Bureau Health Insurance Data

About the Author

Sarah Clark is a freelance writer who lives in Arlington, Virginia.