5 ms·

Cons: Insurance and pre-existing conditions. Not to put a damper on your post, as it sounds like you have had good success. But this is a very real thing for m

Cons: Insurance and pre-existing conditions. Not to put a damper on your post, as it sounds like you have had good success. But this is a very real thing for many people. When I graduated and went out into the world, I needed insurance, and this was before the ACA, which meant that my pre-existing condition was not something that would be insurable, at least at any decent rate. The ACA fixed that, but now you have the GOP attempting to return things to how they were before, especially for pre-existing conditions. They failed now, but they're not going to stop. So, for many people, currently the climate is not one where they could go without a group plan that they'd get at their employer.

reuven 9y ago
You're 100% right... in the United States. In other countries, this isn't even a consideration or thought, because health care cannot be denied, and is independent of your job. I grew up in the US (through college), and returned in graduate school. Paying for health care as a grad student + independent consultant was horrifyingly expensive, and I'm lucky that I was able to do it. In Israel, where I've lived since 1995 (except for grad school), there are lots of reasons not to be a freelancer -- but health care isn't one of them, I'm happy to say.
mgkimsal 9y ago
Getting political for a moment... it's disturbing that we've had health care fundamentally tied to employment (in the US) for decades now. I don't quite know how you break this down. I wouldn't think it has to be 'single-payer' to get past this but... I don't know. > for many people, currently the climate is not one where they could go without a group plan that they'd get at their employer. It's been this way for decades. 20+ years ago I remember talking to people about freelancing, or starting their own business, and the same reasons came up "Oh, i've got this medical condition" or "we can't afford to lose this insurance". I can't speak to the 60s or 70s, but for the bulk of my adult life where I've been aware of this issue, it's been like this. :(
- eru 9y ago
  > I wouldn't think it has to be 'single-payer' to get past this but... I don't know. For a start, eliminate the tax discrimination that makes employer paid health insurance cheaper.
  - mgkimsal 9y ago
    From a tax standpoint, as an independent contractor, my premiums are 100% deductible. But I don't get any sort of 'group rate' discount.
    - eru 9y ago
      But for regular employees there's a different tax treatment when they pay for their own health insurance, isn't it? (Not an American myself.)
      - mgkimsal 9y ago
        I have to assume their is, if you're purchasing directly for yourself, but are also considered a full-time employee of an employer that doesn't offer it to you. Hrm... found this, to explain it... http://www.healthedeals.com/articles/are-health-insurance-premiums-deductible http://www.healthedeals.com/articles/are-health-insurance-pr... " if you’re self-employed and claiming the self-employed health insurance deduction on Form 1040, you don’t have to exceed the 10 percent mark. That’s because you’re writing the premiums off as an adjustment to your income rather than as a deduction." This is what I do. The standard approach many folks take is to "take a deduction" (which occurs at a different point in the tax calculating) - and for that, you can only deduct any amount that exceeds 10% of your "adjusted gross income". In my case, I'm adjusting the gross income by deducting the insurance expense there. That may only be something I can do because I'm not an employee of anyone? I do this every year and it's still confusing as heck to me. But the original point stands - anyone that is purchasing health insurance should be able to not pay any tax on the premiums. Or... no one should be able to(employee, employer, freelance). Level playing field theory and all that jazz...
brianmcc 9y ago
It never ceases to shock me how big a factor health insurance is for US folks. The fact that it can influence your career choices to such an extent is just crazy. Otherwise: +10 for freelancing/contracting. It's a genuinely different and attractive option for folks to whom "employee" seems an OK fit but not a perfect one.

reuven 9y ago

You're 100% right... in the United States. In other countries, this isn't even a consideration or thought, because health care cannot be denied, and is independent of your job. I grew up in the US (through college), and returned in graduate school. Paying for health care as a grad student + independent consultant was horrifyingly expensive, and I'm lucky that I was able to do it. In Israel, where I've lived since 1995 (except for grad school), there are lots of reasons not to be a freelancer -- but health care isn't one of them, I'm happy to say.

mgkimsal 9y ago

Getting political for a moment... it's disturbing that we've had health care fundamentally tied to employment (in the US) for decades now. I don't quite know how you break this down. I wouldn't think it has to be 'single-payer' to get past this but... I don't know. > for many people, currently the climate is not one where they could go without a group plan that they'd get at their employer. It's been this way for decades. 20+ years ago I remember talking to people about freelancing, or starting their own business, and the same reasons came up "Oh, i've got this medical condition" or "we can't afford to lose this insurance". I can't speak to the 60s or 70s, but for the bulk of my adult life where I've been aware of this issue, it's been like this. :(

eru 9y ago
> I wouldn't think it has to be 'single-payer' to get past this but... I don't know. For a start, eliminate the tax discrimination that makes employer paid health insurance cheaper.
- mgkimsal 9y ago
  From a tax standpoint, as an independent contractor, my premiums are 100% deductible. But I don't get any sort of 'group rate' discount.
  - eru 9y ago
    But for regular employees there's a different tax treatment when they pay for their own health insurance, isn't it? (Not an American myself.)
    - mgkimsal 9y ago
      I have to assume their is, if you're purchasing directly for yourself, but are also considered a full-time employee of an employer that doesn't offer it to you. Hrm... found this, to explain it... http://www.healthedeals.com/articles/are-health-insurance-premiums-deductible http://www.healthedeals.com/articles/are-health-insurance-pr... " if you’re self-employed and claiming the self-employed health insurance deduction on Form 1040, you don’t have to exceed the 10 percent mark. That’s because you’re writing the premiums off as an adjustment to your income rather than as a deduction." This is what I do. The standard approach many folks take is to "take a deduction" (which occurs at a different point in the tax calculating) - and for that, you can only deduct any amount that exceeds 10% of your "adjusted gross income". In my case, I'm adjusting the gross income by deducting the insurance expense there. That may only be something I can do because I'm not an employee of anyone? I do this every year and it's still confusing as heck to me. But the original point stands - anyone that is purchasing health insurance should be able to not pay any tax on the premiums. Or... no one should be able to(employee, employer, freelance). Level playing field theory and all that jazz...

brianmcc 9y ago

It never ceases to shock me how big a factor health insurance is for US folks. The fact that it can influence your career choices to such an extent is just crazy. Otherwise: +10 for freelancing/contracting. It's a genuinely different and attractive option for folks to whom "employee" seems an OK fit but not a perfect one.