There are a lot of things that can hold you back from leaving the comfort of your corporate jobs and taking your leap into the entrepreneurial world.
Fear of failure, lack of confidence in your idea, not receiving the support you need to continue getting up every day knowing that at some point you’ll be knocked right back down…
But there are also things like health insurance, and a paycheck, that make the corporate world seem way more comfy than diving into the unknown world of running your own business.
Does Entrepreneurship Have You Questioning Your Health Insurance Options?
These are all significant emotions that every entrepreneur experiences at some point during their journey.
But what about the other stuff, like the financial security?
You’re also giving up a steady paycheck, a 401K with company-match, and a team of co-workers who come to the office every day just like you and provide support and motivation when you need it the most.
All of these things cease to exist when you take that leap.
And last, but certainly not least, what will you do for health insurance if you leave your job?
You’ve heard about COBRA, but who can actually afford that, anyway?
What if it’s not just you that you have to insure, but your entire family?
Health insurance is not cheap
Fact: health insurance is not cheap, and unfortunately, finding the right plan isn’t the easiest search you’ll ever do.
Making sure you’re covered is important, and your healthcare plan is probably not something you would purchase the same way you would your next alarm clock, or a new kitchen utensil, which are both very easy to find online or at your local convenience store.
For starters, when you Google “affordable healthcare”, you’re bombarded by thousands of plans that look OK in terms of a monthly payment, but what on earth is an “HSA”?
How do I know whether or not my coinsurance should be 0% or 40%, and how is that related to my deductible?
HMO or PPO?
And why on earth did all of this seem so simple when you were employed?
Oh yes, because your company basically tells you what healthcare plan you have, and you either say yes, or no…
I feel your pain. I’ve definitely been there before – more than once. I actually happen to be there right now…
Unfortunately I’m not a health insurance consultant; I can’t help you decide what health insurance plan elements are most beneficial for you and your family, or how much your deductible should be.
But I can tell you a few things that I’ve done over the past couple of years during employment transitions that have helped me supplement at least some of my health-related payments.
Vision Coverage
Costco, or any other membership warehouse, like Sam’s Club, typically have an Optical Center for members.
This center will not only offer you great discounts on eye glasses and contacts, but it will also have an optometrist on site who can give you an eye exam and write your prescriptions for you right then and there.
Another option – and one that I currently use – is VSP Vision Care. They have great plans that are low-cost and cover your basic vision appointments and even get you certain discounts on contacts and eyeglasses.
Dental
I totally get why some people are really annoyed with Groupon and Living Social deals. Oftentimes these “deals” encourage spending money that you wouldn’t have spent otherwise, in which case, can it really be considered a “deal”?
However, they’ve become quite sophisticated in their offerings, and I’ve found deals on several occasions for teeth cleaning and other dental work at upwards of 50% off. Keep your eyes peeled!
But if you’d rather get an actual dental plan, then I’d recommend checking out Humana. This is who I’ve used for my dental insurance for several years now, and they have a pretty massive network and overall great coverage when it comes to cleanings and dental work.
Healthcare
This one is a little bit trickier.
Unfortunately, you can’t stop by your local warehouse club or find a Groupon online for healthcare; however, there are some creative ways you can go about getting discounted rates on healthcare plans.
I actually came across this one by accident, but it’s proved to be a lifesaver for me…
I’ve always loved to write, and so when I saw an advertisement for an online publication that was looking for writers to be “staff contributors”, I jumped on it.
Not only would it be a good resume-builder for me as a writer, but it would also give me practice and the opportunity to be a part of a huge online news community with Examiner.com.
When I first signed on with Examiner.com back in 2012, I knew I wouldn’t be making the big bucks; however, I quickly found out that there were perks above and beyond getting the experience itself, including discounted rates on healthcare plans among other things.
If there is something you love to do, check on the Internet to see if there are opportunities for you to contribute to a team or online community that might offer the same types of perks I’ve just mentioned.
This is usually in lieu of actually getting paid for the work you’re doing, but in this case, I wasn’t doing it for the money in the first place, so it ended up working out!
I would also recommend simply doing your research.
I know I was lucky to find the Examiner.com gig, and not everyone is going to just stumble upon perks like healthcare discounts.
However, if you’re diligent and you do your research, then you’ll at least have peace of mind knowing you looked everywhere before settling on a healthcare plan.
Recently I checked out eHealthInsurance.com, and they offer several great health insurance plans.
Be resourceful
Leaving a corporate job that provides you with financial security is scary – no one is denying that.
There are a lot of emotions you need to be prepared to experience, and a lot of roadblocks you’ll need to get past.
But there are only so many excuses you can come up with before you’ll run out. Don’t let excuses stand in your way of doing something you love – especially if that excuse is healthcare.
Be resourceful and go out and find solutions!
