Contractor Q: Should I set up my own company to get insurance?

TLDR; should I set up a company so I can get health insurance? any starting points for that?

I've been living part time abroad and part time US for the last few years–I elected to get a Cigna global insurance for when I'm in the US (good for emergencies). I need preventative surgery and the coverage for it with Cigna is miniscule (bad for other things!).

I work for a small (<10 people, half employees and half contractors) US company as a contractor–I made what I now realize was quite a big mistake in not pushing for employment status sooner, even though I am certainly acting/being treated like an employee. Anyways, I'm not insured through them. I recently requested to be transitioned to employment so that I could qualify for marketplace insurance, but amidst that request the second in command of the company is leaving because they aren't pulling in enough cash–YIKES–so this doesn't feel like a safe option at the moment (or said another way, if I stay as a contractor and cut back hours it might make it more likely for me to stay and get some $ while they have so little work coming in, but forcing the employment status might mean I have to leave entirely).

One insurance broker I spoke with mentioned if I set up my own company I might be able to qualify the company (e.g., myself) for lower cost health insurance than on the marketplace and more immediately–has anyone done this or can point me to resources?

If relevant: Preferred doctor in CA, permanent address in TX (so I think I might need something that crosses state lines). I am willing to pay a high monthly premium.

Hope that makes sense and thank you for any thoughts. This is so overwhelming!

submitted by /u/tiny_tuatara
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