Health insurance for home-based business

Affordable health care insurance for any small business is almost a oxymoron. Affordable typically comes with large numbers of participants. So you have to do your homework.

Check with your local Chamber of Commerce. Does it offer its members access to a group policy or provider?

Talk with an insurance agent specializing in healthcare coverage for small businesses. Ask him or her about products, including Groups of One, PPOs, HMOs and Health Savings Accounts.

Call your state Insurance Commissioner. Each state has it's own rules and regulations about insurances offered in that state. The commissioner's office can tell you what your state's policy is about offering insurance to small business owners.

Finally, visit the Insurance information Institute at www.iii.org or call the National Insurance Consumer Hotline at 1-800-942-4242.