If you're one of the 20 million independent workers who don’t have health insurance, there's a good chance it's because you don't think you can afford it. In fact, this is the number one reason independent workers don’t have a health plan.

But the truth is, health insurance has never been more affordable for independent workers. When you compare low plan prices with how much you risk by not having health coverage, the choice to get a plan is clear.

Is health insurance too expensive?

Health insurance has never been more affordable for independent workers than it is right now, thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Before this law passed, health plans cost some people 20% or more of their income. With prices like that, affording coverage was really hard for a lot of people, so if you went without health insurance, that’s understandable.

The new law says that you should be able to find a qualified health plan—which must meet specific coverage requirements—for no more than 8.5% of your income, or less than half of what it previously cost. Now, 4 in 5 people can get health insurance for $10 or less per month. Some people even find plans for $0.

That’s great news if you couldn’t afford health insurance before. Unfortunately, this news hasn’t reached many of the people who really need to hear it. Around 80% of independent workers that we surveyed weren’t aware that they could get health insurance for such a low price.

The risks of not having insurance

If you can get coverage for $10 per month, you’ll spend $120 for your health plan for the entire year. With all the benefits your health plan will include, preventive care becomes more accessible.

If you don’t have health insurance, however, you’ll get stuck paying all your medical bills, and those costs can quickly add up. If fear of going into debt makes you skip going to the doctor until you absolutely have to, your health and comfort can suffer. Plus, your chances of needing to be hospitalized could increase if you let a condition become serious instead of treating it right away.

Here's what you risk paying out of your own pocket for just a few of the many medical costs that health plans cover.

Cost of preventive care without insurance

Flu shot: $40

Annual wellness visit: $160

Cholesterol and diabetes screenings: up to $200

Source: Women’s Health

Compared to other things your plan will cover, preventive care is pretty low-cost, and it’s easy to plan for these costs each year. Moreover, your plan will cover 100% of these costs. That means getting just one or two of these could more than make up for how much you’ll spend on your health plan.

Cost of emergency care and hospitalization without insurance

Emergency room care

Sore throat: $620

Low back pain: $751

Stitches: $500

X-ray: $260–$460

Broken bone (with surgery) $10,000

Source: Mira

Hospitalization

Average cost per day: $2,607

Overnight stay, per night: $11,700

Source: Debt.org

Emergency care and hospitalization are generally more expensive than preventive care. Just one of these items can make you dip into your savings or go into debt—unless you have health insurance.

Health insurance generally pays between 60% and 90% of these costs. Plus, plans come with an out-of-pocket maximum, which means once you spend a certain amount on medical bills, your plan will pay for 100% of your health care for the rest of the year.

Cost of pregnancy and maternity care without insurance

Prenatal care: $2,000

Source: WebMD

Delivery: $5,000-$14,500

Source: Parents

While you might be able to plan and save for pregnancy and maternity care, having a baby can be expensive, especially if there are complications during delivery. However, if you have health insurance, it’ll pay 60% to 90% of these costs.

Get covered and spread the word

Now that you know how affordable health insurance can be and the risks of going without it, it’s time to find out how much your health plan will cost.

But don’t stop there. More than 12 million Americans don’t have health insurance, and nearly 11 million of them could receive health insurance at a reduced cost, if only they applied for it. Chances are, someone you know—someone you care about—doesn’t have insurance, and it’s probably because they think they can’t afford it.

If you know other independent workers who need health insurance, here’s how to help them get covered:

1. Share this article (or talk to them about what you’ve read here).

2. Share this link so they can see what health plans are offered based on their financial background and health needs.

3. Act fast, and remind them of the deadlines for enrolling:

• For coverage starting January 1, 2022, enroll by December 15, 2021

• For coverage starting February 1, 2022, enroll by January 15, 2022

ARPA will keep health plan prices low for you and your fellow independent workers throughout 2022. After that, this law may not be renewed, so don’t put off getting insurance for another year. Even if prices go up in 2023, getting a plan this year means you’ll have the chance to improve your health now and make up for any missed annual wellness visits from when you weren’t insured.

Most people don’t know how affordable coverage is right now, but together, we can fix that! Take the first step and get yourself covered. Then help your friends and family!

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