Freelancers Union, the New York-based membership group for independent workers, does not sell a health plan of its own. Its own website says "FU and FIA are not insurers" and "Each insurer has sole responsibility for its products." Freelancers Insurance Agency, its subsidiary, is described as a licensed health insurance producer in New York, California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Texas, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and Colorado, and the group says it earns a small commission, at no extra cost to you, when a member buys a plan through it.
For a freelancer under 65, that means the practical question is how to buy individual coverage. In 2026 and 2027 the main route is an ACA Marketplace plan on HealthCare.gov or your state exchange, where your estimated net self-employment income decides how large a premium tax credit you get. Freelancers Union can point you to partner tools, but the plan, the price and the subsidy come from the insurer and the Marketplace.
Coverage Breakdown
Direct answer: does Freelancers Union offer health insurance?
No. Freelancers Union is not an insurer and does not run its own health plan. It is a free-to-join membership group that points members to partners, including Catch for comparing HealthCare.gov and state Marketplace plans. Most freelancers buy an ACA Marketplace plan, where the premium tax credit applies. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 in most states.
What Freelancers Union members can actually buy (2026 to 2027)
Freelancers Union members get a curated list of options, not a union plan. The organization's health page names partners including Solo Health, Opolis, Galileo, CSS (a professional employer organization), River Health and Smirk Health, and its 2026 guide describes Catch as a service that lets you compare plans on the federal and state Marketplaces. Membership is free to join, and the group says it is not a licensed insurance agent itself.
Because each partner is different, the useful test is the same every time: is this an ACA-compliant plan that covers essential health benefits, and is it sold on the Marketplace? ACA-compliant plans cannot turn you down or charge more for a preexisting condition. Plans that are not ACA-compliant may do both, and plans bought outside the Marketplace do not get the premium tax credit.
- Catch: compares HealthCare.gov and state Marketplace plans; it is run by Catch Insurance, not the official Marketplace.
- Solo Health: HSA-eligible PPO plans, as described on Freelancers Union's page.
- Opolis: an employment and benefits platform, not an insurer.
- Check each product's own terms before paying; Freelancers Union says each insurer is responsible for its products.
How a freelancer buys an ACA Marketplace plan for 2027 coverage
For 2027 coverage, HealthCare.gov open enrollment began November 1, 2026 and ends January 15, 2027. Enroll or change plans by December 15, 2026 and pay your first premium for coverage that starts January 1, 2027. Enroll from December 16 through January 15 and coverage starts February 1, 2027. Some state exchanges use other dates, so confirm yours; HealthCare.gov's December 15 deadline has been in litigation, so recheck its dates page before you rely on it.
After January 15, 2027 you can enroll only with a Special Enrollment Period, such as losing other coverage. Medicaid and CHIP applications are accepted at any time.
- Step 1: Estimate your net self-employment income for the coverage year (revenue minus business expenses), not last year's income.
- Step 2: Apply at HealthCare.gov or your state exchange, or compare plans through a partner tool such as Catch, and see what savings you qualify for.
- Step 3: Compare premium, deductible, out-of-pocket maximum and whether your doctors are in the network.
- Step 4: Pick a plan and pay the first premium so coverage starts.
- Step 5: Update your income on your application if it changes during the year.
How much help freelancers can get: 2026 and 2027 coverage income limits
Premium tax credits for freelancers depend on estimated income as a share of the federal poverty level, and the year of coverage decides which guidelines apply. The 400% limit for 2026 coverage is $62,600 for one person and $128,600 for a family of four. For 2027 coverage, which you can pick from November 1, 2026, it is $63,840 for one person and $132,000 for a family of four. The IRS sets the expected contribution for 2027 coverage at 2.15% to 10.22% of income (Rev. Proc. 2026-26).
Variable income carries a tax-time risk. From tax year 2026 there is no cap on repaying excess advance premium tax credits, at any income. If your advance credit is larger than the credit you qualify for, you repay the full difference on Form 8962. Update your estimate with the Marketplace when a big contract lands.
Lower-income freelancers: Medicaid and state programs
In states that expanded Medicaid, adults under 65 with income up to 138% of the 2026 federal poverty level, $22,025 for one person, can qualify for Medicaid instead of a Marketplace plan. Self-employment counts by net income after business expenses. Expansion adults 19 to 64 also face a work requirement that starts as early as January 2027 depending on your state, so check your state agency's rules.
State rules can change the picture. Freelancers Union reported on June 29, 2026 that New York's Essential Plan 200-250 tier ended July 1, 2026 and that affected people could enroll in a Qualified Health Plan through August 30 with coverage backdated to July 1. If you live in New York, use the New York State of Health Marketplace.
Alternatives if you wanted a Freelancers Union plan
Because Freelancers Union has no plan of its own, these are the real routes a freelancer under 65 can take. Each one links to an official source.
- HealthCare.gov or your state exchange: ACA-compliant plans with income-based savings. Start at healthcare.gov/self-employed.
- Medicaid or CHIP: if your estimated net income is low enough in your state; applications are accepted year-round at healthcare.gov/medicaid-chip.
- A spouse's job-based plan: ask the spouse's HR department what covering you would cost; a job plan that is affordable and meets minimum value can reduce or end your Marketplace credit.
- A Special Enrollment Period: if you lose other coverage, you can usually enroll within 60 days outside open enrollment; see healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment.
- SHOP: if your business has employees, the SHOP Marketplace for small businesses may let you cover yourself and them.
Taxes and what the Freelancers Union claim on other pages gets wrong
Self-employed people who buy their own coverage may be able to deduct the premiums. That deduction, claimed on Form 7206, lowers income tax but is a separate question from where you buy the plan. Our guide to the self-employed health insurance deduction explains who qualifies.
Older articles describe a Freelancers Union group plan with its own rates. Freelancers Union's current pages say it is not an insurer and points to partners, so treat any price quoted for a "Freelancers Union plan" as the price of a partner's or insurer's product, and confirm it with the insurer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Freelancers Union sell its own health insurance plan?
No. Freelancers Union's health insurance page states that it is not a licensed insurance agent and that FU and its subsidiary Freelancers Insurance Agency are not insurers. It lists partners such as Solo Health, Opolis, Galileo, River Health and Smirk Health, and says each insurer is responsible for its own products. Joining the union is free.
How do I get health insurance as a freelancer if I am a Freelancers Union member?
Most freelancers buy an ACA Marketplace plan at HealthCare.gov or their state exchange, or compare plans through a partner tool such as Catch. Estimate your net self-employment income for the coverage year, see what savings you qualify for, and enroll between November 1, 2026 and January 15, 2027 for 2027 coverage in most states.
Can I get a premium tax credit through Freelancers Union?
Not from Freelancers Union itself. The credit applies to plans bought through the Marketplace, so a Marketplace plan found through Catch or HealthCare.gov can qualify. For 2027 coverage the credit range is $15,960 to $63,840 for one person and $33,000 to $132,000 for a family of four. Plans bought outside the Marketplace do not get the credit.
What is the deadline to enroll for 2027 health coverage as a freelancer?
In most states, open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. On HealthCare.gov, enroll by December 15, 2026 and pay the first premium for coverage starting January 1, 2027; later enrollment starts February 1, 2027. Some state exchanges differ, and the December 15 date has been in litigation, so check your exchange.
What if my freelance income changes during the year?
Update your income on your Marketplace application when it changes. From tax year 2026 there is no cap on repaying excess advance premium tax credits at any income, so if your advance credit exceeds the credit you qualify for, you repay the full difference on Form 8962 when you file.
Can a freelancer qualify for Medicaid instead?
Yes, if your estimated net income after business expenses is low enough. In expansion states, adults under 65 can qualify at up to 138% of the 2026 federal poverty level, which is $22,025 for one person. Expansion adults 19 to 64 also face a work requirement starting as early as January 2027, depending on the state. Apply at any time.
What is the right plan for a freelance consultant?
No single plan fits every consultant. The choice depends on your state, your estimated net income, your doctors and how much you can pay in premiums versus a deductible. Compare ACA-compliant plans, which cover essential health benefits and cannot turn you down for a preexisting condition, on HealthCare.gov or your state exchange.
Can I deduct my health insurance premiums as a freelancer?
Many self-employed people can deduct premiums for coverage they buy, claimed on Form 7206. The deduction lowers income tax, not self-employment tax, and it has its own rules. Our guide on the self-employed health insurance deduction explains who qualifies and how to claim it.
