Insurance for self employed folks?

Anyone here know of any good plans/companies offering insurance to self employed or artist types?

The kids are insured but Mrs. Foot and I are not. The shoulder situation is getting progressively worse and I am thinking I would like to be insured before I am told it needs surgery. As for pre-existing conditions, I am still under the radar since I've never had this diagnosed in an office.

I spent a few hours researching insurance online and determined that it may be cheaper to move to Sweden or some other country which offers some form of health care don't get me started.

Are you 100% self employed with no connection to any organization at all? Any professional affiliations? Usually industry affiliation groups have some sort of group plan available.

If not check out the national association for the self employed. i'm not a joiner so i don't belong, but i didn't check them out a few years ago. as long as you aren't thinking about adding more kids they have some ok insurance programs available.

Also check with you state. some states (like AZ) have an insurance program for self employed people. they don't advertise it, but the coverage and costs are actually quite good.

A professional association should be able to get you a discount/group rate. Something like this maybe.

If there is a local Chamber of Commerce, they may have decent rates for members. You have to join - around here it's about $200.00 a year,
but that may be offset by the savings.

Move to MA.