Working usually qualifies a person for group insurance and for those who do not have the group policy options they can be covered under individual plans. A person who is self-employed is defined as working completely for himself with no other workers. This means that the self-employed are covered under individual or private plans, in most cases. Because of the individual plan policies are form private insurers, they are governed by the same Illinois laws for that private insurance and the self-employed person is considered an individual.
Many people think that even though they might have one or two people working for them, they are still self-employed. However, this is not the case. Illinois state laws governing health insurance, any self employed person may not have anyone working for them; otherwise they are considered a “small employer” and are protected under different laws entirely.
Working as a self-employed person has certain advantages, however. For example, any premiums they pay could be 100 percent tax deductible in some situations. It is best to talk to an accountant who can explain the tax advantages. In addition, any self-employed person is also allowed to apply for the CHIP insurance if he is not eligible for the private or individual insurance plans for any reason.
While being self-employed can have a certain ring of freedom to it, it does not mean you have to be offered insurance for any reason. It is good to remember that even though you are working, you are working for yourself and that you are governed under the individual Illinois insurance laws, and not the same laws employers must abide by.