Freelance life is pretty great, but there’s one big perk traditional employees get that we don’t: employer-sponsored health insurance.

Fortunately, Open Enrollment is the one time of year anyone can sign up for health insurance for 2025. And there’s good news for procrastinators! CMS just extended the deadline to get coverage starting January 1st. You now have until Wednesday, December 18 to get covered. If you've put it off, this is your sign to do it now. Use these five tips to find last-minute insurance through Stride:

1. Learn the Basic Health Insurance Lingo

Don’t know how health insurance works? Not sure what “deductible” or “coinsurance” mean? You’re definitely not alone!

Don’t worry though, we have you covered. Check out these eight must-know terms. In just a few minutes, you’ll be an expert on basic health insurance definitions and be ready to make a smart insurance decision.

2. Know Your Income and Cash in on Extra Savings

Your income probably isn’t fixed, so it might take some effort to figure out your annual income — but trust us, that extra effort is worth it! Correctly estimating your income when you apply for health insurance could qualify you for some serious government discounts (otherwise known as subsidies), making your monthly payments significantly cheaper. In fact, Stride members save an average of $410 per month on health insurance.

Want to see what you could save? Enter your zip code below to search for savings and get personalized plan recommendations.

3. Comparison Shop (and Let Stride Do the Math for You)

A big trick to finding your best plan is understanding your medical care usage and associated costs. If you don’t see the doctor often, a more expensive plan with lots of benefits may waste your money. However, if you take pricey prescriptions and see specialists, the cheapest plan may cost you more in the long run.

We’ll sort through all the possible plans (more than what’s on the HealthCare.gov website), do the math for you, and provide you with tailored recommendations to help keep both you and your bank account healthy.

4. Evaluate Your Risk Profile

Risk is an important factor when choosing your coverage, especially if you’re a healthy person. You’ve probably noticed your monthly payments will be far less with a high deductible health plan.

But look at that deductible (how much you pay before insurance kicks in), and ask yourself: Can I afford to pay that amount if I need an unexpected medical procedure? Remember — it doesn’t take much to max out a $7,000 deductible (which is about the price of treating a broken nose).

Understand the health insurance metal tiers (bronze, silver, gold, platinum) and their corresponding risk trade-offs so you can choose the best plan for you.

5. Leverage Stride’s Health Care Concierge Team

Have a tricky health situation or just need to talk with a human to understand your best options? We solve people’s problems every day! Just send us an email at support@stridehealth.com and we will help you out.

And if you have questions later about your coverage or how you to get all the free care that comes with your plan, we’re here to help year-round.

Avoid Doing Last Minute Health Insurance — It Only Takes a Few Minutes

Now that you know how to sign up for an individual last minute insurance plan for 2024, it’s time to end your procrastination.

Enter your zip code below to get started.

The Procrastinator's Guide to Buying Last-Minute Health Insurance