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The Lower Manhattan skyline across the East River, seen from Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York City

New York City · The five boroughs, New York

New York City health insurance broker. For freelancers with uneven pay.

Free help for New Yorkers who buy their own coverage. Working gigs in film or music, tutoring, driving, or running a one-person business from your apartment? You can compare plans on NY State of Health, and we can help you understand your options. We are licensed in New York. New York runs its own exchange, NY State of Health.

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  • No Spam Calls

Photo: "View of Manhattan from Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York City, 20231005 0914 2148" by Jakub Hałun, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Cropped, resized, and converted to WebP. Modified from the original.

Questions we hear

Freelance pay,
city prices?

About 33 in 100 New York City homes are lived in by their owners, per the Census Bureau, so most people rent. Freelancers in the five boroughs ask us these.

“My pay is up one month and down the next. What do I write down?”

Use your closest estimate for the whole year, after business costs. If it moves a lot, update your account so the help you get stays right.

“Could I qualify for something that costs less than a regular plan?”

Maybe. NY State of Health lists the Essential Plan, Medicaid, and Child Health Plus for people with certain incomes. You can apply for those any time of year.

“I live in Queens but work all over. Does my borough matter?”

Yes. Your home address sets your choices, and each borough is its own county, so plan lists can differ.

New York City by the numbers

Five boroughs,
one big city.

New York City is made up of five boroughs, and each one is also a county. The Census Bureau provides these figures.

About 8.5 million

New Yorkers, per Census estimates for 2020-2024.

$80,483

was the city's median household income.

About 33 in 100

of homes in the five boroughs are owner-occupied.

About 38

is the median age across the city.

About 17 in 100

of city workers mostly work from home.

About 7 in 100

of New Yorkers under 65 had no coverage.

About 8 in 100

of adults 19-64 here had only a plan they bought.

Source for New York City: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (tables B01003, B19013, B25003, B01002, B08301, B27010). Your plans, prices, and tax credit depend on your ZIP code, household, and income.

Paul Daniels
Paul DanielsLicensed health advisor · NPN 20986580

How we help

Freelance help
in all five boroughs.

We are an independent brokerage, so we can line up New York plans from several insurers. For each one, we add a year of monthly bills to the deductible to get one number.

Freelance work comes in bursts. We look back at your last few years of pay and help you choose a fair number for 2027, so your help is not set too high or too low.

If you get paid through apps or on 1099 forms from many clients, we add them up with you. Small amounts from many places can change which program fits.

Some New York plans let you see doctors all over the city, and some keep you to a smaller group. We check where your doctors are before you choose.

If you split your year between the city and somewhere else, we look at where your main home is, because that's where you buy.

  • Help for freelancers and gig workers
  • Licensed in 20 U.S. states · Agent NPN 20986580
  • You do not pay us for our help. We are paid by the insurance companies when you enroll. Your price for a plan is the same whether you use us or sign up on your own. Commissions can differ by company.

How it works

Three steps
for city freelancers.

Borough and ZIP

Ages and the ZIP code where you live.

Your 2027 pay

Gigs, side jobs, and any steady checks.

See what fits

A program or a plan, with your doctors looked up.

Book a 15-minute call
Free · No obligation · About a 15-minute call

What you get

Coverage that bends
with your work.

When pay swings, a careful income estimate helps at tax time. After our call, you'll have:

  • A 2027 income number you can stand behind
  • Whether a year-round program may fit
  • A 12-month cost for each plan
  • A plan to finish by December 15, 2026, for a January 1, 2027, start

Straight answers

New York health insurance questions.

When is open enrollment in New York for 2027?

As of October 24, 2026, NY State of Health says open enrollment for 2027 plans runs from November 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027. A court case about these dates, City of Columbus v. Kennedy, is still on appeal, with argument set for October 30, 2026. Confirm the dates before you enroll. New applicants who finish by December 15 start January 1.

Has New York expanded Medicaid?

Yes. As of October 24, 2026, New York has adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion, according to KFF.

Can I apply for the Essential Plan in the summer?

Yes, if you qualify. As of October 24, 2026, NY State of Health says the Essential Plan is open all year. Income rules can change, so check before you apply.

Is there a fine if I skip coverage in New York?

As of October 24, 2026, under current law, New York has no state penalty and there is no federal one.

What if I land a staff job with benefits mid-year?

You can end your NY State of Health coverage when the job plan starts. Tell them, so any help stops on time.

Can my kids be on a different program than me?

Yes. Child Health Plus is for kids under 19, and parents may land in another program. We check each person.

Is New York City one county?

No. The five boroughs are five counties. Your plan list comes from the one you live in.

What papers should I gather?

Your last tax return, any 1099 forms, and a list of your doctors and drugs.

More help

Freelancer health insurance Gig worker health insurance Nationwide private PPO plans All areas we serve

Open enrollment starts November 1

Comparing plans in New York City?

Talk it over on a free 15-minute call, or start a quote online. Enrolling is up to you.

Book a 15-minute call Get a quote online

By the Daniels Health Advisors team (agent NPN 20986580). Local facts checked October 24, 2026.

Disclaimer

Daniels Health Advisors LLC is an independent insurance brokerage—not NY State of Health, HealthCare.gov, CMS, a state agency, a state insurance department, or an insurance company. Availability, premiums, networks, deductibles, and subsidies vary by zip, household, and plan year. Nothing here is medical, legal, or tax advice, or a guarantee of savings, approval, any-doctor access, or a “best” plan. For tax questions, talk with a tax professional. Official: NYStateOfHealth.ny.gov. To check an agent's license, contact your state's insurance department. New York City (Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond Counties), New York.