Health insurance, briefed for the practice of law.
Counsel Health represents solo attorneys, of-counsel lawyers, small-firm partners, and paralegals before the marketplace. We analyze ACA tiers, private off-exchange options, and HSA-compatible plans against your projected billable income, your household composition, and the rhythm of your collections — then file the application on your behalf. There is no fee for our advisory; we are compensated by the carrier at standard licensed-agent rates.
Plan architecture, in plain language.
We work with every architecture available to a self-employed legal professional. The right one depends on income variability, deductibility against Schedule C or K-1 distributions, and the network your referring providers actually accept.
Silver ACA — the benchmark tier
Silver-tier plans anchor the federal premium tax credit calculation and are the only tier that unlocks cost-sharing reductions for counsel whose projected modified AGI falls between roughly 100% and 250% of the federal poverty level. For solo practitioners with variable income, the silver tier is almost always the analytical starting point — even when a different tier ultimately wins.
Bronze ACA — premium-first economics
Bronze tiers minimize monthly outlay in exchange for a deductible that typically sits between $6,500 and the federal HSA cap. Suited to healthy practitioners whose primary concern is catastrophic protection while they build a reserve. Bronze plans rarely make sense for households expecting routine specialist care or planned procedures.
Gold ACA — utilization-first economics
Gold tiers carry richer copayment structures, smaller deductibles, and broader PPO networks. They become the recommended plan when a household member has a chronic condition under active management, when a baby is on the calendar, or when planned surgery is anticipated within the policy year.
HSA-compatible HDHPs
High-deductible plans pair with a Health Savings Account that delivers the rare triple tax advantage — deductible going in, tax-free growth, tax-free withdrawal for qualified medical expenses. For a solo S-corp attorney in a high marginal bracket, the after-tax economics of an HSA-paired HDHP frequently outperform a richer plan, even when nominal medical spending is similar.
Off-exchange private plans
Counsel whose AGI exceeds subsidy thresholds — typically partners drawing meaningful K-1 distributions — should review off-exchange plans alongside marketplace options. Private plans occasionally offer broader hospital networks or richer pharmacy benefits at competitive premiums when no subsidy is in play.
Short-term plans, used sparingly
Short-term medical plans have a legitimate but narrow role: bridging a documented gap, typically between bar-passage and first-firm coverage, or between leaving a partnership and the next special enrollment period. They are not ACA-compliant and do not cover pre-existing conditions; we recommend them only as a stopgap with a defined end date.
What an ACA-compliant plan must cover.
Federal law mandates ten essential health benefits in every ACA-compliant plan. We walk you through these to ensure no carrier marketing materials obscure what is, in fact, baseline.
- Ambulatory and primary care services
- Emergency services and hospitalization
- Maternity, prenatal, and newborn care
- Mental health and substance use disorder services, at full parity with medical care
- Prescription drug coverage with a published formulary
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
- Laboratory work, imaging, and diagnostics
- Preventive care, immunizations, and chronic disease management at no cost-share in-network
- Pediatric services including pediatric dental and vision
- Telehealth and behavioral health virtual visits
Indicative premium ranges for legal professionals.
These ranges reflect what Counsel Health clients have paid in the past twenty-four months, before subsidy. Your actual quote depends on state, age, household composition, and tobacco status.
Subsidy mechanics for variable-income counsel.
The federal premium tax credit is calculated against projected modified adjusted gross income for the coverage year, then reconciled at tax filing. For solo and contingency-based practices, the projection is the entire game. We project conservatively, build in a reconciliation reserve, and schedule a mid-year review when collections trend materially above or below plan. Under current enhanced subsidy rules, even households with substantially higher incomes may qualify for meaningful assistance; do not assume you have aged out of subsidy without running the numbers.
Open enrollment and special enrollment periods.
Open enrollment runs from November 1 through January 15 in most states; state-based exchanges in California, New York, New Jersey, and a few others extend later. Outside that window, you must demonstrate a qualifying life event to enroll mid-year.
- Loss of prior coverage (60-day window from the loss date)
- Marriage, divorce, or legal separation
- Birth, adoption, or placement for foster care
- Permanent move to a new ZIP code with different plan availability
- Aging off a parent's plan at twenty-six
- Becoming a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
- Material change in household income that affects subsidy eligibility
Why work with Counsel Health.
We represent legal professionals exclusively. We understand the difference between an of-counsel engagement letter and a partnership agreement; we model premiums against Schedule C deductibility before recommending a plan; and we remain on retainer through the policy year for life-event filings, claim disputes, and annual renewal. There is no premium markup and no fee to you.
Ready to see your options?
Answer a few quick questions and a licensed advisor will email your personalized plan options within one business hour. 100% free, no obligation.