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 indepen

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.