This article is courtesy of our partner Solo Health Collective. Learn more about Solo at: https://freelancersunion.org/solo.

For freelancers, independence isn’t just about clients or schedules. It’s about control — over income, time, and long-term stability. Healthcare should work the same way.

For years, the conversation has focused on one question: Do you have coverage?

But freelancers are asking better questions now:

• Can I see the doctors I trust?
• Can I predict what healthcare will actually cost?
• Do I have any real say in how my plan works?

Coverage alone isn’t enough. Freelancers want control.

Control Over Doctors: Choice Still Matters

Traditional insurance keeps narrowing the definition of “choice.”

Networks shrink. Doctors disappear mid-year. Care relationships get disrupted; not by patient choice, but by contract changes. And for freelancers, there’s no HR department to fix it. When access changes, they absorb the disruption alone.

That’s why models like Solo Health Collective resonate. Solo prioritizes flexibility and access, offering a national PPO network and the ability to work with providers outside the network when needed.

For independent workers, continuity of care isn’t a luxury. It’s essential.

Control Over Costs: Predictability Beats “Cheap”

Freelancers already manage variable income. What they don’t want is s unpredictable healthcare risk layered on top.

Low premiums often hide the real problem: deductibles, coinsurance, surprise bills, and opaque pharmacy pricing. That’s why freelancers are shifting their focus from cheap to clear.

Solo plans are designed around cost transparency:

• Clearly defined deductibles that function as true out-of-pocket maximums
• Straightforward benefit structures
• Pharmacy benefits that are easier to understand
• Built-in advocacy to help prevent balance billing
• Concierge support for providers, claims, and questions

Healthcare costs aren’t just personal expenses for freelancers, they’re business risks. Predictability makes planning possible.

Ownership Is the Real Shift

In traditional insurance, members are passive. Decisions are made elsewhere, and changes arrive without warning. But freelancers don’t operate that way. They evaluate trade-offs. They manage risk. They take responsibility for outcomes.

Solo Health Collective is built for that mindset. Instead of treating members like policy numbers, Solo treats them like owners of their health plan.

Members experience:

• Clear communication
• Real support and advocacy
• A system designed to reward engagement — not confusion

That ownership mindset is already how freelancers run their businesses. Healthcare shouldn’t be different.

Healthcare Designed for Businesses of One

That’s why thousands of freelancers and self-employed professionals are choosing Solo’s collective, self-funded model. It's built for transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability.

To get started with Solo Health Collective, you’ll need an EIN and to complete a brief health questionnaire. You can view pricing, design your plan, and choose a start date that works for you and your business.

Because freelancers don’t just want coverage. They want control.