Selecting health insurance doesn’t have to be a challenge

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – It's that time of year to start thinking about your health insurance coverage for next year, especially if you are self-employed.

Reports show 72 million Americans are self-employed. According to the University of Idaho, in 2021, 26.1% of the Idahoan workforce is self-employed, that number trending upward year after year.

According to Stride Health, almost half of independent workers say choosing health insurance is too complex, leaving people giving up or speeding through the process.

But it doesn't have to be this way.

"If you're overwhelmed, you're not alone. Not only that, there are a lot of different terms. There's actually a lot of different health plans," Stride Health Co-Founder and CEO Noah Lang said. "The best way to get started is to focus on yourself before you go anywhere or do anything. Take a little inventory of what you need. Have your health needs changed since the last year? Doctor visits, prescriptions, any new medical conditions you're managing, and try to write down a list, an inventory of everything that you need. Then think about things that might happen and how much risk you can you can bear."

We're told most plans have four different levels of coverage – Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum – so you can pick what's best for you.

Taking time to shop around is encouraged when it comes to selecting a plan.

Open enrollment ends Dec. 15 for coverage to kick in come January.

Stride Health and Your Health Idaho are just a couple of resources to help get your search started.