Non-Employer Health Insurance: A Strategic Guide for High-Net-Worth Households
Looking for a trusted network of high-net-worth peers? Apply now to join Long Angle, a vetted community where successful investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals connect. Access confidential discussions, live events, peer advisory groups, and curated investment opportunities.
Table of Contents
Why This Matters for High-Income Households
Health Insurance Options Without an Employer
Real-World Member Scenarios
Advanced Strategies for HNWIs
FAQs: Non-Employer Health Insurance for Wealthy Individuals
Partnership Spotlight: Long Angle’s New Health Insurance Solution
Risks and Limitations of High-Yield Checking Accounts
FAQs: High-Yield Checking for Wealthy Individuals
Final Thoughts: Why This Is a Community Question
You've built your net worth. You've left your job or sold your company. But now comes the unexpected headache: securing health insurance without an employer plan.
For many high-income individuals, especially founders post-exit, early retirees, and those with significant passive income, health insurance becomes a source of anxiety. You don’t qualify for ACA subsidies, but you also don’t want to pay blindly for inadequate coverage. Navigating this landscape requires clarity, strategy, and in many cases, community insights.
Why This Matters for High-Income Households
The assumption that “wealthy people just pay out-of-pocket” doesn’t reflect the real-world decisions HNWIs face. Most aren’t reckless with risk just because they have means. And many are parents, trying to protect children while also optimizing for taxes and long-term planning.
A few key reasons this issue is more complex for high earners:
No subsidies: ACA plans phase out subsidies well before most HNW income levels.
Higher scrutiny: More income can mean more IRS oversight around HSAs and deductions.
Wider options: From concierge brokers to private networks, choice increases, but so does confusion.
Longevity of planning: Early retirees need multi-decade coverage that works across life stages, locations, and family structures.
Health Insurance Options Without an Employer
1. COBRA
What it is: Temporary continuation of your employer coverage, typically for 18 months
Pros: Same coverage, familiar doctors, no application
Cons: Expensive (full premium + 2%), short-term solution
2. ACA Marketplace Plans
How it works: Healthcare.gov or state marketplaces offer individual and family plans
Pros: Wide range of coverage tiers (Bronze to Platinum), standardized rules
Cons: High premiums without subsidies, narrow networks in some regions
3. Private Brokers & Concierge Plans
What to know: Brokers shop the market (or private networks) on your behalf
Pros: Hands-on support, better plan design, options like PPOs and international coverage
Cons: More expensive, opaque pricing
Long Angle works with vetted insurance partners who specialize in serving high-net-worth households with customized private plans and concierge support.
4. Health Share Ministries
What they are: Faith-based cost-sharing collectives
Pros: Low premiums
Cons: Not insurance, limited protection, pre-existing condition exclusions
5. Short-Term Health Plans
Caution: Often marketed as “gap coverage,” but lack ACA protections
Verdict: Typically too risky for HNW families
6. Family Coverage Planning
When children, college-aged dependents, or spouses are involved, policies should be chosen for access, continuity of care, and portability across state lines. Private brokers can often structure custom family-wide solutions that go far beyond public options.
Real-World Member Scenarios
We’ve seen a range of approaches inside the Long Angle community:
Early Retiree at 45: Opted for a Platinum ACA plan with a $2,000/month premium. Why? Simplicity and broad coverage while living off taxable brokerage withdrawals.
S-Corp Business Owner: Built a stack of high-deductible PPO + HSA + Direct Primary Care (DPC) for a hybrid model of flexibility and tax sheltering.
Dual-Income Coastal Couple with $10M Net Worth: Hired a private health consultant through a Long Angle partner to build a family plan that covers travel, urgent care, and fertility services across states.
High-Net-Worth Asset Allocation Report
Long Angle's annual high-net-worth asset allocation report presents the latest investment trends and strategies for portfolios ranging from high-net-worth to ultra-high-net-worth investors.
Advanced Strategies for HNWIs
Use HSAs as Stealth IRAs
Triple tax-advantaged, HSA contributions grow tax-free and can be withdrawn penalty-free after age 65 for any purpose.
Self-Insure Selectively
Some members with $20M+ net worth choose to self-insure for routine care and only maintain catastrophic policies. This requires risk tolerance and liquidity planning.
Direct Primary Care (DPC)
For a flat monthly fee, DPC gives direct access to a physician, no insurance middlemen. It pairs well with HDHPs and is growing in popularity.
Maximize Tax Treatment
Some expenses can be deducted via your business or accounted for in retirement drawdowns. Coordinating with a benefits-focused advisor (not just your wealth manager) is crucial.
Broker Vetting
Get referrals from trusted peers. Some brokers specialize in ultra-high-net-worth families and offer better plan architecture than generalist platforms. Long Angle regularly connects members with trusted providers who work exclusively with private clients.
FAQs: Non-Employer Health Insurance for Wealthy Individuals
What’s the best health insurance option if I’m not working but make too much for subsidies?
Consider a Platinum ACA plan or hire a private broker to find a PPO with national coverage. If you own a business, look at small group plans too.
Is COBRA worth it?
Yes, for the first 18 months post-employment if you like your current plan. After that, it’s often too expensive.
Can I deduct health insurance premiums?
Sometimes. If you're self-employed, premiums may be deductible. Check with your tax advisor.
What is Direct Primary Care (DPC)?
A subscription-based healthcare model where you pay your doctor directly. No insurance billing. High convenience, especially for families.
Should I use an HSA even if I’m wealthy?
Yes. The tax advantages are powerful. HSAs are one of the few triple-tax-free tools available.
Can Long Angle help with health insurance planning?
Yes. Members have access to vetted partners and shared community wisdom to navigate private health coverage post-exit or without W-2 income.
Partnership Spotlight: Long Angle’s New Health Insurance Solution
It’s a common comparison: checking vs money market accounts. While both can be yield-bearing and FDIC insured, they serve different roles:
Risks and Limitations of High-Yield Checking Accounts
In a recent poll, 64% of Long Angle members selected access to a trusted health insurance broker as their top choice for new partner support. We took member feedback seriously and quickly.
We now offer a partnership with a highly vetted broker who specializes in serving high-income households navigating non-employer health insurance. The partnership expands member access to private insurance plans that go beyond what’s typically available on your state exchange.
Why this matters:
In some states, only HMO plans are available on the ACA exchange, but PPO plans are accessible off-exchange
Pricing and coverage quality varies dramatically from state to state
Members do not need to wait for open enrollment to sign up
Many members have already worked with this broker and reported excellent experiences. One of our team members also went through the process personally and appreciated the transparency: the broker even advised staying on a current state plan because it offered better value, despite it earning him no commission. This partnership reflects what Long Angle is built to do: give members real solutions and access to trusted experts.
Final Thoughts: Why This Is a Community Question
Health insurance after leaving traditional employment isn’t just a personal decision. It’s a puzzle best solved with insight from others who’ve already faced it. Inside Long Angle, members routinely share which brokers have delivered, which ACA plans offer real value, how to handle kids aging off your plan, and which concierge plans are worth the premium, among other topics.
Apply for Long Angle Membership. If you're thinking about a job transition, planning for early retirement, or optimizing post-exit coverage, you don’t need to figure it out alone. Long Angle helps members evaluate their options and access trusted health insurance professionals who specialize in serving HNW households.
Ready to connect with like-minded peers navigating similar wealth decisions?
Join Long Angle, a private community where successful entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals collaborate on wealth strategies, investment opportunities, and life's next chapter.
