This post in sponsored by beWellnm. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 
Being both self-employed and an independent contractor has come with a variety of ups and downs. The pros definitely outweigh the cons, however some of the more challenging aspects have turned out to be the most expensive and stressful (hello taxes!). Not only am I an independent contractor, but my husband is too. Long gone are our corporate job days, which also means we had to say goodbye to our insurance coverage.
Let’s just say that managing life and figuring out health insurance when you’re self-employed is no joke. The cost alone has been a huge adjustment for our family. I try to remind myself that paying a lot more for insurance is worth it to be able to have the flexibility we have. For the past three years we have been utilizing beWellnm, New Mexico’s health insurance exchange, which has made learning about our insurance options a little less scary.
Managing Life (and Health Insurance) When You’re Self-Employed
The first year that we needed to use the health insurance exchange was pretty daunting to say the least. We were so used to not having to really think twice about our insurance options since we were covered by my husband’s job. Now that we are three years into being self-employed/contractors, I feel a lot more confident navigating our options. If you are in the same boat we are, here is a little information about how to use beWellnm.
In order to be eligible, you must live in New Mexico and cannot be covered by a health plan through work, Medicare, or Medicaid. Once you determine that you’re eligible, you can utilize the beWellnm website to compare plans side by side from multiple insurance providers. You can also obtain free help from an enrollment counselor. This resource was especially helpful to me when we first began to explore our options with the health insurance exchange.
Choosing the plan that is right for your family can be tricky. There are a few things to keep in mind while doing so. These include how often you see your doctor, the medications you take, and any medical conditions you already have. It’s also important to consider what you can afford monthly and are willing to pay out of pocket.
Once you compare plans, you can access the enrollment checklist before proceeding to HealthCare.gov to enroll. Open enrollment begins November 1st and ends December 15th. The plan that you choose will cover you through 2019. We’re considering a provider change this year, and are already using the resources at beWellnm to prepare for open enrollment!
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