Your options when nobody offers you a plan
If you drive for a rideshare app, deliver food or invoice clients as a 1099 contractor, you buy health coverage on your own, as an individual. A business of one doesn't need a group plan.
Our form shows two kinds of coverage side by side. The first is an ACA Marketplace plan, with your estimated tax credit already taken off. The second is fixed indemnity insurance from UnitedHealthcare, called Health ProtectorGuard (HPG). They work very differently, and for self-employed people the difference matters a lot.
In 2026, 13 insurance companies sold Marketplace plans somewhere in Florida. How many you can pick from depends on your county, and the quote always shows the plans for your ZIP code.
Estimating your income for the tax credit
The Marketplace asks for the income you expect in the year you want coverage, not what you made last year. For self-employed people that number is your net self-employment income: what you bring in, minus the business expenses you deduct on your taxes. A driver who spends a big part of the fares on the car reports the smaller number. Add any other income in your tax household, like a spouse's paycheck.
A practical way to build the estimate:
- Start with last year's tax return, the line that shows your business profit.
- Check the last few months of deposits and expenses. Are you busier or slower than last year?
- Think about the season. Tourism work in Florida often slows in the summer and picks up in the winter.
Your tax credit depends on where that income falls compared with the federal poverty level for your household size. The table below shows the dollar amounts.
| People in household | 100% | 150% | 200% | 250% | 300% | 400% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $23,940 | $31,920 | $39,900 | $47,880 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $32,460 | $43,280 | $54,100 | $64,920 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $40,980 | $54,640 | $68,300 | $81,960 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $49,500 | $66,000 | $82,500 | $99,000 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $58,020 | $77,360 | $96,700 | $116,040 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $66,540 | $88,720 | $110,900 | $133,080 | $177,440 |
Source: HHS poverty guidelines for 2026, used for 2027 coverage
For 2027, the IRS expects you to pay a share of your income toward the benchmark Silver plan, from 2.15% at the lowest incomes up to 10.22% between 300% and 400% of the poverty level. The tax credit covers the rest of that benchmark price. Here is what that looks like in dollars:
| Household | Yearly income | Share of poverty level | Expected share | Toward Silver each month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $22,000 | 138% | 3.53% | $65 |
| 1 person | $32,000 | 201% | 6.80% | $181 |
| 1 person | $45,000 | 282% | 9.66% | $362 |
| 1 person | $60,000 | 376% | 10.22% | $511 |
| 1 person | $70,000 | 439% | No credit | No credit |
| 2 people | $55,000 | 254% | 8.79% | $403 |
| 4 people | $75,000 | 227% | 7.81% | $488 |
| 4 people | $125,000 | 379% | 10.22% | $1,065 |
Estimates from the IRS 2027 table. Your tax credit is the benchmark Silver price in your county minus the amount in the last column, so any plan priced above that costs you the difference. Your final credit is set when you apply and settled on your tax return.
Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2026-26 (2027 table)
Watch the 400% line. For one person it is $63,840 of income; for a family of four it is $132,000. Above it there is no tax credit for 2027 under the law as it stands in October 2026. One great year can push you over, so keep an eye on it.
When your income changes month to month
Gig pay is lumpy. One month you work every weekend, the next the app sends fewer rides. The Marketplace looks at the whole year, not any single month.
So give your honest best estimate for the year, then update your Marketplace application when something real changes: you land a big client, lose one, take a part-time job or stop working for a while. Updating changes your tax credit for the months that are left, which keeps the surprise at tax time small.
If your income swings a lot, you can also take less of the credit each month than you qualify for. You pay more now and get the difference back when you file, if your estimate held up.
Settling up at tax time
The tax credit you get during the year is an advance. Your real credit is figured on your tax return, using Form 8962. If you ended up earning more than you estimated, you may have to pay back some or all of the extra. If you earned less, you may get more back.
Many self-employed people can also take the self-employed health insurance deduction for premiums they pay. There are rules. For example, you generally can't take it for months when you could have joined an employer plan, including one through a spouse's job. The deduction and the Marketplace tax credit also affect each other, and the math gets tricky. Ask a tax professional before you count on a number.
ACA plan or fixed indemnity if you work 1099
As an independent contractor you usually have no workers' compensation and no paid sick days. If you get hurt or sick, your health plan is what stands between you and the bill. That is the main reason to look hard at an ACA plan first.
| ACA Marketplace plan | HPG fixed indemnity | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax credit | Yes, based on income | No |
| Pre-existing conditions | Covered, no health questions | Health questions apply, conditions can be limited |
| Yearly out-of-pocket maximum | Yes | No |
| How it pays | Plan pays its share of the bill | Set cash amounts per service |
| When you can buy | Open Enrollment or a Special Enrollment Period | Any month of the year |
HPG pays fixed amounts no matter what the bill is. On Select 2000 that is $80 per doctor visit and $2,000 per day in the hospital, with limits on visits and prescription fills each calendar year. It includes HealthiestYou by Teladoc Health for 24/7 virtual doctor visits. But it is not full health insurance and not minimum essential coverage, and with no out-of-pocket maximum a long hospital stay can leave you owing far more than it pays.
Some self-employed people earn above 400%, get no credit and look at HPG because they can apply any month. If that's you, read how ACA plans and fixed indemnity compare before you decide. If you just left a job with health coverage, you likely have a Special Enrollment Period and can get an ACA plan now. Otherwise the next window is Open Enrollment, November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027.
Getting your numbers
Enter your ZIP code, date of birth, household size and best income estimate on the quote form. You'll see Marketplace plans with your estimated credit taken off, and HPG prices, with no account and no phone number. Licensed agents help with the income number for free, and so does the chat. We are not a government website. To enroll in an ACA plan you finish the Marketplace application on HealthSherpa, a private enrollment site connected to the federal Marketplace. If money is tight, read about ways to pay less.
Common questions
Can a 1099 contractor get an Obamacare plan with a tax credit?
Yes. Being self-employed doesn't change your eligibility. The credit is based on your expected household income and household size, and you need to buy during Open Enrollment or a Special Enrollment Period.
Which income do I enter if I drive for a rideshare or delivery app?
Your expected net earnings for the year: what the apps pay you, minus the business expenses you deduct on your taxes, like vehicle costs. Add any other income in your tax household.
What happens if my gig income ends up higher than I guessed?
Your credit is settled on your tax return with Form 8962, and you may have to pay back some or all of the extra credit. Updating your Marketplace application during the year keeps that amount smaller.
Can I deduct my health insurance premiums as a freelancer?
Many self-employed people can, through the self-employed health insurance deduction, but there are limits and it interacts with the Marketplace credit. A tax professional can tell you what applies to you.
I just went freelance after leaving a job with benefits. Do I have to wait for Open Enrollment?
Usually not. Losing job-based coverage is a qualifying life event, which gives you about 60 days to enroll in a Marketplace plan. See our page on the Special Enrollment Period.