Can I deduct health insurance premiums against my Schedule C / K-1?

Self-employed premiums are deductible above the line on Schedule 1, subject to the earned-income limitation. For S-corp counsel, premiums must be reported on the W-2.

My small firm has 3 attorneys — group plan or individual?

It depends on partners' household incomes and family structures. We model both and present the differential in writing.

Mental health and substance use coverage for legal professionals?

Every ACA-compliant plan covers behavioral health as an essential benefit, with federal parity protections.

I'm of-counsel to a firm — am I employed for coverage purposes?

Generally no. Of-counsel attorneys are typically independent contractors and purchase coverage individually.

What about long-term disability paired with health coverage?

We strongly recommend own-occupation LTD for solo counsel and can coordinate a quote with a vetted disability broker.

How does Counsel Health get compensated?

Carrier-paid licensed-agent commission at standard rates. No premium markup, no fee to you.

Family coverage including spouse and dependents?

Yes — the most common structure we file. We evaluate whether spouse and children are better served on a separate plan.

A Coverage Brief for Legal Professionals

Health coverage for legal professionals in private practice.

ACA marketplace plans for solo attorneys, of-counsel lawyers, small firm partners, and paralegals. Drafted carefully. Reviewed by licensed counsel. Filed on your behalf.

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— Compiled by Counsel Health licensed advisors. No fee to you.

"A health plan ought to be drafted with the same care as a well-argued brief."

Counsel Health · Est. 2019

Practitioners We Represent

Coverage tailored by practice type.

01

Solo Practitioners

Individual coverage analysis aligned with self-employment income, Schedule C deductions, and irregular billing cycles.

02

Small Firm Partners (2–10 attorneys)

Comparative review of group plans versus individually-purchased coverage with K-1 distribution context.

03

Of-Counsel Attorneys

Coverage structured for the in-between status: not quite employee, not quite contractor, distinctly both.

04

Contingency-Based Practices

Plans designed to absorb variable case settlements and the lean months between meaningful resolutions.

05

Legal Aid & Nonprofit Counsel

Marketplace alternatives when employer-sponsored coverage falls short of family or specialist needs.

06

Paralegals & Legal Assistants in Private Practice

Affordable ACA plans for legal support professionals working as 1099 contractors or per-diem staff.

Plate · VThe courthouse, before the docket

II · An Opinion

An opinion on coverage.

"Self-employed legal professionals routinely overspend on health coverage because the marketplace is opaque, the deductions are misunderstood, and the timing is misaligned with billing cycles. We work to correct each of these conditions."

Opacity

Marketplace pricing and network architecture is presented with intentional complexity. We translate it into the terms by which decisions are actually made.

Deductions

Self-employed premiums move above the line; pass-through entities sit differently. We model the tax effect alongside the premium, not as an afterthought.

Timing

Open enrollment, special enrollment, COBRA windows, and quarterly estimated tax payments rarely align. We coordinate the calendar against your billing cycle.

Plate · VIThe stacks, where research begins

III · Architecture

Plan architecture.

01

Bronze ACA Plans

Lower monthly outlay with higher deductibles. Suited for healthy practitioners with modest expected utilization.

Premium range: $220 – $380 / mo
Deductible range: $6,500 – $9,450
Network: HMO / EPO
Best for: Catastrophic protection

02

Silver ACA Plans

The benchmark tier. Eligible for cost-sharing reductions and the lion's share of premium tax credits.

Premium range: $340 – $560 / mo
Deductible range: $2,500 – $5,000
Network: PPO / HMO
Best for: Subsidy-eligible counsel

03

Gold ACA Plans

Higher premiums offset by lower deductibles and richer copayments. Preferred where regular care is anticipated.

Premium range: $480 – $760 / mo
Deductible range: $1,000 – $2,500
Network: PPO
Best for: Frequent specialist visits

04

HSA-Compatible HDHPs

Pair a high-deductible plan with a Health Savings Account for triple tax advantage and a Schedule C-friendly footprint.

Premium range: $260 – $440 / mo
Deductible range: $1,600 – $8,300
Network: PPO / EPO
Best for: Self-employed tax planning

IV · Method

Our method.

I.

Intake

We learn your practice structure, family situation, household income, and tax position. Twenty minutes by phone or written intake, at your preference.

II.

Analysis

We compare available plans across your state's marketplace and a vetted set of private options. We model premium against deduction, network against your referring physicians, and HSA capacity against your projected tax liability.

III.

Enrollment

We file your application, confirm subsidy eligibility, and remain on retainer through the policy year for life events, billing questions, and renewal.

Plates · A working archive

Drafted, reviewed, filed — the artifacts of careful counsel.

V · From Our Clients

Counsel's notes.

"My income swings hard with the asylum docket. Counsel Health restructured my plan to absorb a slow quarter without forfeiting my subsidy. It was, for the first time, a coverage conversation rather than a sales pitch."

Andrew B., Esq.

Solo Immigration Attorney · Houston, TX

"We were quoted a group plan that looked attractive until Counsel Health ran the comparison. Four individual silver plans, with two of us subsidy-eligible, came in eleven thousand dollars lower per year. The analysis was thorough and the recommendation was unequivocal."

Lisa W., Partner

Family Law Firm · Portland, OR

"Being of-counsel makes most plans wrong by default. Counsel Health understood the engagement-letter ambiguity and selected a plan that treated me as the small-business owner I effectively am."

Marcus T., Esq.

Of-Counsel Litigator · New York, NY

Request a Coverage Brief

Schedule your consultation.

Provide a few particulars. A licensed Counsel Health advisor will respond within one business day with an initial plan review and a proposed time for a thirty-minute consultation. There is no fee for our service, and you are under no obligation to enroll.

VI · Inquiry

Frequent questions, briefly addressed.

ACA premium tax credits are based on modified adjusted gross income projected for the coverage year. For variable-income counsel, we estimate conservatively, reconcile at filing, and structure quarterly review points so a strong quarter doesn't strand you with an unexpected repayment.