Affordable Healthcare Options for Small Business Owners in 2025

Healthcare sharing is really only affordable when it's accessed through a larger institution, like an employer or a union. But what about the millions that need healthcare solutions for small business owners? Freelancers, entrepreneurs, and independent workers don't have access to those economies of scale, and that creates real challenges.

For them, health insurance plans often feel out of reach—too expensive, too rigid, and not built for their unique needs. Fortunately, new solutions are emerging, designed to accommodate today's workforce with affordable healthcare alternatives that offer flexibility and genuine protection. We're here to help you navigate these options with clarity and confidence.

For decades, health insurance has positioned itself as the default way to access healthcare. Plans are built for large companies, unions, and institutions that can offer insurance companies a bulk group of employees in a single package. It's streamlined and efficient—for the insurance companies.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce , small business employees and the self-employed now make up 45.9% of the American workforce . Yet this massive portion of workers often finds themselves priced out of the system. Without an employer to split the cost, insurance monthly contributions become prohibitively expensive.

In fact, over 60% of uninsured adults go without sharing simply because they cannot afford it, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation . If you've searched for health sharing for small business owners , health sharing for 1099 workers , or affordable healthcare for self-employed people , you've probably run into the same challenges: sky-high costs for sharing you may rarely use.

One of the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs and freelancers is simply awareness. Many people assume that health insurance is the only way to protect their health and finances. But there are other options—ones that are designed to work for small teams and individuals, and we want you to know about them.

These alternatives aren't technically insurance, and that's why they're often harder to find. But they can meet the same needs: providing access to care, helping with major medical expenses, and delivering the peace of mind you deserve.

Medical cost sharing is a Community-based model in which Members make monthly contributions and have the costs of large medical expenses shared among the group. It also includes many of the benefits people value most—like preventative care and telemedicine. At Knew Health, this isn't just a financial arrangement—it's about caring for one another.

Take Liam, who owns a small bike shop with two employees. Each year, he looked into small group health insurance, but the quotes were always too high. Despite growing his business, the cost of sharing outpaced his budget.

Then Liam discovered medical cost sharing. It offered him and his employees peace of mind—without the crushing monthly contributions.

Solo creator Summer is a game developer and 1099 graphics contractor. She assumed she'd have to go without healthcare sharing for the foreseeable future—until a friend told her about alternatives to insurance.

She joined a cost sharing Community that fit well within her budget and even came with unlimited telemedicine access.

Whether you're managing a small team, building your solo business, or contracting as a 1099, your healthcare needs are unique. Much of what health insurance offers might not even apply to you—but you're still paying full price for it.

Ask yourself:

• Do I need sharing for routine care?
• Would I benefit more from protection against large medical bills?
• Do I want virtual care or discounted medications?

The good news? You can mix and match solutions. Many entrepreneurs find that combining options—like cost sharing and telemedicine—offers more value and more flexibility than health insurance ever could. We're here to support you in finding what works best for your unique situation.

Health insurance isn't the only way to access healthcare in 2025. There IS affordable healthcare for small business owners. If you're a small business owner, sole proprietor, tradesperson, or freelancer, medical cost sharing may be exactly what you've been looking for. Remember, Knew Health is NOT health insurance—it's a Community-driven approach to sharing medical expenses.

Explore how Knew Health can help you protect your health, your finances, and your freedom—without health insurance.

👉 Learn more about medical cost sharing