Self-Employed

If you run a business that produces income and has no employees, you’re considered self-employed.

Employees are generally workers whose income you report on a W-2 form at the end of the year. (Hiring independent contractors to do some work for you does not necessarily mean they are your employees.) 

See the IRS website about how to know if people who work for you are considered employees.

When you fill out a MNsure application WITH financial help, do your best to accurately estimate your self-employment income and expenses you expect to have for the year you want health coverage. You can base your estimate on your past experience, realistic expectations and industry standards. 

Financial help is based on your estimated net income for the year you’re getting coverage, not last year’s income.

During the year, if it looks like your yearly net income will be higher or lower than you estimated, update your account information by reporting changes as soon as possible.

When you apply for coverage with financial help through MNsure, you must report income from everyone in your household, including those who don’t need coverage. 

Learn who to count in your household and how to report other kinds of income.

Report any changes to your household size or income as soon as possible.

If you wind up making more than you reported on your MNsure application, you could have to pay back some or all of the premium tax credits you took during the year. If you wind up making less, you could qualify for more savings than you claimed during the year.

No. MNsure does not offer small group health insurance. However, your employees can apply for individual health plans through MNsure.

You can cancel a private plan you purchased through MNsure and enroll in your employer’s insurance. 

Once you have an offer of job-based coverage, in most cases you’ll no longer qualify for a tax credits through MNsure. This is true whether you enroll in the job-based coverage or not.

In rare cases, your employer’s coverage won’t be considered affordable to you or won’t meet minimum standards. If this is true, you may qualify for premium tax credits and other savings through MNsure based on your income.

If your spouse’s plan offers coverage to spouses and dependents, in most cases you won’t qualify for tax credits through MNsure.

If your spouse’s job-based insurance doesn’t cover spouses and dependents, then you may qualify for tax credits through MNsure.

In most cases, a married couple has to file a joint federal tax return to be eligible for premium tax credits and other savings through MNsure.