If you are real estate agent and are not covered through your spouse for health insurance, then you are either paying for your own health benefits, self insured, or are completely uninsured.

As of January 1st, Colorado will be moving forward with the Affordable Care Act and the current health plans many self employed people are currently utilizing for health care coverage will not meet the new requirements and will likely be discontinued by their provider.  Those who choose to remain with plans that are not compliant with federal mandates, will face a penalty when tax time rolls around.  Initially, the tax penalty will be minimal ($95 per adult or 1% of your income, whichever is greater) but the penalty will increase every year thereafter for those who choose not to participate, remain uninsured, or stick with a plan that does not comply with federal health care requirements. 

I received updated information on what my insurance options are going to be and not only is my monthly premium going to be 50% higher than it is now but the coverage will also be worse. In order to decrease the monthly premium for 2014 which will still be incredibly high compared to my current plan, I will have to go with a plan with a much higher deductible and even worse coverage. This is only the beginning, because the rates will continue to increase each year from what I understand.

If you are self-employed and pay for your own health insurance, I hope you have been taking time to read, research, and know what to expect.  The self-employed are going to have to pay more out of pocket each year for medical care and IMHO will be one of the most negatively impacted by the Affordable Care Act/Obamacare.

A few tips:

Try to find a plan that offers an HSA (Health Savings Account).  This will provide you with a tax break on the monies deposited into your HSA.  Keep in mind, there is a cap on the amount you can put into your HSA.  You will need to open your HSA before the end of 2012 and have it funded on or before April 14, 2014.

Know your options. Meet with a knowledgeable health advisor that can give you guidance and help you compare which plan will work best for you and your family (Gold, Silver, or Bronze).  Find out if an accidental rider can be added to your plan.  Some may even find better savings to remain insured with a non-compliant health insurance plan and pay the penalty. 

Budget better.  Unless you locked in your rate, it is very likely you will see a significant increase in your monthly insurance premium.  Start looking at areas in your budget that you can save money or eliminate in order to recoup for your increased premiums.

Stay healthy and active.  The best way to avoid enormous out of pocket expenses, is to take care of yourself!

Work harder.  I hate to say it but that's exactly what you will have to do.  With more money leaving your bank account each month to provide health coverage for you and your family, you are going to have to work harder, make more, or charge higher fees to compensate.  Agents who give discounts may reconsider doing so after January 1.

Financial Assistance.  You may qualify for subsidized coverage depending on your adjusted gross income.  In Colorado, couples with an annual adjusted gross income of $65,000 or less are eligible for assistance