Private Health Insurance Direct Questions
The questions self-employed, 1099, and business-owner buyers ask about full-price private health insurance — every one linked to its plain answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers.
A directory of 37 questions from self-employed, 1099, and business-owner buyers of full-price, off-exchange private health insurance. Every question links out to its plain answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers.
Talk to a licensed agent: 1-866-254-9580. Phone consultations only — no lead forms, no email intake.
All 37 questions
- What is the difference between a broad-network and a narrow-network PPO?A broad-network PPO contracts with a large share of hospitals and specialists in an area or nationally, while a narrow-network PPO contracts with a smaller set.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- Can I buy private health insurance any time of year?You can enroll in an ACA-compliant private plan during federal Open Enrollment or a 60-day Special Enrollment Period triggered by a qualifying life event.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What is a COBRA alternative for high earners?The most common COBRA alternative for a high earner is an individual ACA-compliant private plan bought off-exchange from the same or a comparable carrier.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- How much does a concierge medicine membership cost?Concierge medicine memberships are private out-of-pocket monthly or annual fees paid directly to a physician practice for enhanced access.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What are the dental and vision options for the self-employed?Self-employed buyers can add a standalone private dental plan and a standalone vision plan directly from a carrier or broker.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- Direct primary care vs health insurance — what's the difference?Direct primary care is a monthly membership paid directly to a primary-care practice for routine visits, and is not health insurance.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What are the health insurance options for 1099 contractors?A 1099 contractor is treated as self-employed for health coverage and buys an individual ACA-compliant private plan directly from a carrier or broker.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What are the health insurance options for business owners?A business owner can sponsor a group plan, fund an Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA), or buy an individual private plan.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What are the health insurance options for early retirees before Medicare?Early retirees who leave work before 65 typically bridge to Medicare with an individual ACA-compliant private plan bought off-exchange at full price.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What are the health insurance options for gig workers?Gig workers who file a 1099 buy individual ACA-compliant private health insurance directly from a carrier or broker and pay the full-price premium.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What are the health insurance options for LLC owners?A single-member LLC owner is taxed as a sole proprietor and buys an individual ACA-compliant private plan, deducting the premium above the line.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- How does health insurance work for S-corporation owners?A more-than-2% S-corp shareholder-employee has the company pay or reimburse the ACA-compliant private premium and includes it in W-2 wages.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What are the health insurance options for the self-employed?The self-employed typically buy an individual ACA-compliant private plan off-exchange or on-exchange, and may deduct premiums against net self-employment income.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What are the private health insurance options for high earners who buy off-exchange?High earners who do not use HealthCare.gov pricing help buy the same ACA-compliant private plan off-exchange directly from the carrier or a broker.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- How do claims work on a private PPO?On a private PPO, the in-network provider submits a claim, the insurer applies the contracted rate against your deductible and coinsurance, and pays its share.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- How does an ICHRA work for business owners?A business owner sets a fixed monthly allowance in defined employee classes, and the ICHRA reimburses each employee pre-tax for individual-market premiums.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- How does in-network vs out-of-network work on a PPO?In-network care is billed at the insurer's contracted rate with lower cost-sharing, while out-of-network care is billed higher and may balance-bill.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- How much does a private PPO cost?The monthly premium for a private ACA-compliant PPO varies by age, ZIP code, tobacco status, and metal tier, and is quoted at full price off-exchange.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- How do I buy health insurance off-exchange?To buy off-exchange you enroll directly with a carrier or a state-licensed independent broker during Open Enrollment or a Special Enrollment Period.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What are the HSA contribution limits for 2026?For 2026, the IRS HSA contribution limits are $4,400 for self-only and $8,750 for family HDHP coverage, plus a $1,000 catch-up at 55+.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What are HSA-eligible plans for self-employed buyers?HSA-eligible plans are private ACA-compliant high-deductible health plans that meet the IRS HDHP definition, letting you contribute to a Health Savings Account.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- How does prior authorization work on a private PPO?Prior authorization is a private plan's requirement that a provider get insurer approval before certain services, drugs, or equipment are covered.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What is a private family plan for a self-employed buyer?A private family plan is a single ACA-compliant individual-market policy covering the applicant, spouse, and dependent children.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- How much does private health insurance cost out of pocket?Out-of-pocket cost is the full-price monthly premium plus the plan's deductible, copays, and coinsurance up to the annual out-of-pocket maximum.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- Private health insurance for a 1099 vs COBRA — which makes sense?For a 1099 contractor leaving a W-2 job, an individual ACA-compliant private plan is often cheaper than COBRA, which is charged at the full group rate plus a fee.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What is a private PPO with a broad network?A broad-network private PPO is an ACA-compliant Preferred Provider Organization plan whose in-network list covers a large share of national providers.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- Private vs employer health insurance — which is better for a business owner?A business owner without employees usually finds an individual private ACA-compliant plan less expensive and more flexible than a group plan.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What is short-term health insurance for a coverage gap?Short-term, limited-duration insurance is temporary private coverage sold outside the ACA framework that can bridge a short gap but is not comprehensive.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What is supplemental health insurance for self-pay buyers?Supplemental health insurance is a private policy that pays cash or specific benefits on top of a primary plan for accidents, critical illness, or hospital stays.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What counts as full-price premium on a private health plan?Full-price premium is the unadjusted monthly cost of a private ACA-compliant plan as quoted by the insurer, before any Marketplace subsidy.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What is a deductible on a private health plan?A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for covered services before your private plan starts paying, and it resets each plan year.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What is a high-deductible health plan for a self-employed buyer?For 2026, an HSA-qualifying HDHP is defined by the IRS as a plan with a minimum annual deductible of $1,700 self-only or $3,400 family.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What is an out-of-pocket maximum on a private health plan?The out-of-pocket maximum is the most you pay in a plan year for covered in-network essential health benefits, after which the plan pays 100%.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What is coinsurance on a private health plan?Coinsurance is the percentage of a covered service's cost you pay after meeting your deductible, until you reach the plan's out-of-pocket maximum.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What is direct primary care?Direct primary care is a model in which patients pay a flat monthly or annual membership fee directly to a primary-care practice for routine care.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What is an ICHRA (Individual Coverage HRA)?An ICHRA is an employer-funded account that reimburses employees on a pre-tax basis for individual-market premiums and qualified medical expenses.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- What is off-exchange health insurance?Off-exchange health insurance is a private individual or family plan you buy directly from an insurer or a licensed broker instead of through HealthCare.gov.→ answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers
- Private Health Insurance Direct Questions is an educational question directory for full-price, off-exchange private health insurance buyers. It is not medical, legal, tax, or benefits advice.
- This site does not offer ACA subsidies, Medicaid, or low-income assistance. Every question routes out to its plain answer at Private Health Insurance Direct Answers (privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com).
- Licensed agent consultations available by phone only: 1-866-254-9580.