# Private Health Insurance Direct Answers > Off-exchange private health insurance for the self-employed, 1099 contractors, business owners, and early retirees who pay full-price premium out of pocket. Sourced from HealthCare.gov, CMS, IRS, and DOL. Content on this site is published under the Citation License 1.0 (https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/license); citation with attribution is welcomed, wholesale republication is prohibited. ## Answers - [How long can I stay on COBRA?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/how-long-can-i-stay-on-cobra): Federal COBRA continuation coverage runs 18 months following a qualifying event such as job loss (other than for gross misconduct) or a… - [What is level-funded health insurance for small business owners?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/level-funded-health-insurance-small-business): Level-funded health insurance is a self-insured group plan in which a small business pays a fixed monthly amount that combines expected… - [What is a QSEHRA and how is it different from an ICHRA?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/qsehra-vs-ichra): A Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA) is a tax-advantaged account that lets an employer with fewer than 50… - [Are health care sharing ministries health insurance?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/are-health-care-sharing-ministries-health-insurance): No — a health care sharing ministry is a religiously affiliated cost-sharing arrangement in which members contribute monthly amounts that… - [Does private health insurance count as creditable coverage for Medicare?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/does-private-health-insurance-count-as-creditable-coverage-for-medicare): It depends — an ACA-compliant private major medical plan generally counts as creditable coverage for the Medicare Part B late enrollment… - [Do plans cost the same on-exchange and off-exchange?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/do-plans-cost-the-same-on-and-off-exchange): Yes — for the exact same qualified health plan sold by the same issuer, federal rule requires the premium rate to be identical whether the… - [What income is too high for ACA subsidies in 2026?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/income-too-high-for-aca-subsidies-2026): For 2026 plan-year coverage, a household modified adjusted gross income above 400% of the federal poverty level published by the U.S.… - [Is COBRA worth it for high earners?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/is-cobra-worth-it-for-high-earners): It depends — COBRA is often the right choice for a high earner who is mid-treatment, mid-deductible, or values keeping the exact employer… - [Can my S-corp pay for my health insurance?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/can-my-scorp-pay-for-my-health-insurance): Yes — an S corporation may pay or reimburse health insurance premiums for a more-than-2% shareholder-employee, and the premiums must be… - [What is the ACA subsidy cliff and who does it affect in 2026?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/aca-subsidy-cliff-2026): The ACA subsidy cliff is the hard 400%-of-federal-poverty-level income cutoff above which a household receives no premium tax credit at… - [What is the self-employed health insurance deduction?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/self-employed-health-insurance-deduction): The self-employed health insurance deduction is an above-the-line federal income tax deduction that lets a qualifying self-employed… - [What is medically underwritten health insurance?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/medically-underwritten-health-insurance): Medically underwritten health insurance is a plan in which the insurer asks health questions and may decline coverage, charge higher… - [What is a COBRA alternative for high earners?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/cobra-alternative-for-high-earners): For high earners who typically don't qualify for ACA premium subsidies, the most common COBRA alternative is an individual ACA-compliant… - [What counts as full-price premium on a private health plan?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/what-counts-as-full-price-premium): Full-price premium is the unadjusted monthly cost of a private ACA-compliant health plan as quoted by the insurer for the buyer's age, ZIP… - [How much does a concierge medicine membership cost?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/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… - [What are the HSA contribution limits for 2026?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/hsa-contribution-limits-2026): For 2026, the IRS HSA contribution limits are $4,400 for self-only HDHP coverage and $8,750 for family HDHP coverage, plus a $1,000… - [What is the difference between a broad-network and a narrow-network PPO?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/broad-network-vs-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… - [What is coinsurance on a private health plan?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/what-is-coinsurance-on-a-private-plan): Coinsurance is the percentage of the cost of a covered health service you pay after you've met your deductible, and it applies until you… - [What is direct primary care?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/what-is-direct-primary-care): Direct primary care (DPC) is a physician-practice model in which patients pay a flat monthly or annual membership fee directly to a… - [How do I buy health insurance off-exchange?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/how-to-buy-health-insurance-off-exchange): To buy health insurance off-exchange you enroll directly with an insurance carrier or through a state-licensed independent broker during… - [What is off-exchange health insurance?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/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… - [What are the health insurance options for 1099 contractors?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/health-insurance-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… - [What are the health insurance options for business owners?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/health-insurance-for-business-owners): A small business owner can either sponsor a group health plan for the company, fund an Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA) so employees buy… - [What are HSA-eligible plans for self-employed buyers?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/hsa-eligible-plans-for-self-employed): HSA-eligible plans for self-employed buyers are private ACA-compliant high-deductible health plans that meet the IRS 2026 definition of an… - [How does an ICHRA work for business owners?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/how-does-ichra-work-for-business-owners): A business owner uses an ICHRA by setting a fixed monthly allowance in defined employee classes, and the ICHRA then reimburses each… - [Direct primary care vs health insurance — what's the difference?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/direct-primary-care-vs-insurance): Direct primary care (DPC) is a monthly membership paid directly to a primary-care practice for routine visits and is not health insurance,… - [What is supplemental health insurance for self-pay buyers?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/supplemental-health-insurance-for-self-pay): Supplemental health insurance is a private policy that pays cash or specific benefits on top of a primary health plan for events like… - [How do claims work on a private PPO?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/how-claims-work-on-a-private-ppo): On a private PPO, the in-network provider submits a claim to your insurer, the insurer applies the contracted rate against your deductible… - [What is a private family plan for a self-employed buyer?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/private-family-plan-for-self-employed): A private family plan for a self-employed buyer is a single ACA-compliant individual-market policy covering the applicant, spouse, and… - [Private vs employer health insurance — which is better for a business owner?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/private-vs-employer-health-insurance-for-owners): A business owner without employees usually finds an individual private ACA-compliant plan less expensive and more flexible than sponsoring… - [What is an ICHRA (Individual Coverage HRA)?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/what-is-ichra-individual-coverage-hra): An Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) is an employer-funded account that reimburses employees on a pre-tax basis… - [What are the health insurance options for early retirees before Medicare?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/health-insurance-for-early-retirees-before-medicare): Early retirees who leave work before age 65 typically bridge to Medicare with an individual ACA-compliant private plan bought off-exchange… - [What are the health insurance options for the self-employed?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/health-insurance-for-self-employed): The self-employed typically buy an individual ACA-compliant private health plan off-exchange or on-exchange, and if they have net… - [What are the health insurance options for gig workers?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/health-insurance-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… - [What are the health insurance options for LLC owners?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/health-insurance-for-llc-owners): A single-member LLC owner is taxed as a sole proprietor and buys an individual ACA-compliant private health plan, deducting the premium… - [How does health insurance work for S-corporation owners?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/health-insurance-for-s-corp-owners): An S-corporation shareholder-employee who owns more than 2% of stock has the company pay or reimburse the ACA-compliant private health… - [What are the private health insurance options for high earners who buy off-exchange?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/health-insurance-off-exchange-for-high-earners): High earners who do not use HealthCare.gov Marketplace pricing help buy the same ACA-compliant private plan off-exchange directly from the… - [Private health insurance for a 1099 vs COBRA — which makes sense?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/private-health-insurance-for-1099-vs-cobra): For a 1099 contractor leaving a W-2 job, an individual ACA-compliant private plan is often less expensive than COBRA because COBRA is… - [Can I buy private health insurance any time of year?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/can-i-buy-private-health-insurance-anytime): No — you can only enroll in an ACA-compliant private health insurance plan during federal Open Enrollment or during a 60-day Special… - [What is short-term health insurance for a coverage gap?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/short-term-health-insurance-coverage-gap): Short-term, limited-duration insurance (STLDI) is temporary private health coverage sold outside the ACA framework that can bridge a short… - [What is a high-deductible health plan for a self-employed buyer?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/what-is-a-high-deductible-health-plan-for-self-employed): For 2026, an HSA-qualifying high-deductible health plan (HDHP) is defined by the IRS as a plan with a minimum annual deductible of $1,700… - [What are the dental and vision options for the self-employed?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/dental-and-vision-for-self-employed): Self-employed buyers can add a standalone private dental plan and a standalone vision plan directly from a carrier or broker, either… - [How does in-network vs out-of-network work on a PPO?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/how-in-network-vs-out-of-network-works-on-a-ppo): On a private PPO, in-network care is billed at the insurer's contracted rate with lower deductible, copay, and coinsurance, while… - [How much does a private PPO cost?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/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… - [How does prior authorization work on a private PPO?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/prior-authorization-on-a-private-ppo): Prior authorization is a private health plan's requirement that a provider get approval from the insurer before certain services, drugs, or… - [How much does private health insurance cost out of pocket?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/private-health-insurance-cost-out-of-pocket): The out-of-pocket cost of a private health insurance plan is the full-price monthly premium plus the plan's deductible, copays, and… - [What is a private PPO with a broad network?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/private-ppo-with-broad-network): A private PPO with a broad network is an ACA-compliant Preferred Provider Organization plan whose in-network provider list covers a large… - [What is a deductible on a private health plan?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/what-is-a-deductible-on-a-private-plan): A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for covered health services before your private health plan starts paying, and it resets… - [What is an out-of-pocket maximum on a private health plan?](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/answers/what-is-an-out-of-pocket-maximum-on-a-private-plan): The out-of-pocket maximum is the most you have to pay in a plan year for covered in-network essential health benefits, and once you hit it… ## Optional - [Excerpt corpus](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/llms-full.txt): Short excerpts of every hub and answer with canonical URLs for citation. - [AI instructions](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/ai-instructions): How AI systems and answer engines may use and cite this site. - [Editorial steward](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/steward): Named human reviewer accountable for every published answer. - [License](https://privatehealthinsurancedirectanswers.com/license): Citation License 1.0 — what may and may not be republished.