Private Health Plans for the Self-Employed in West Virginia

I am an independent, licensed health insurance broker, and I am licensed in West Virginia. If you are self-employed, a 1099 contractor, or a freelancer, this page covers the options that sit outside the Marketplace — what is actually available in West Virginia, what the trade-offs are, and when a private plan is the wrong answer. There is no fee for my help. The insurance company pays the broker, not you.

West Virginia law allows short-term plans to run up to 36 months including renewals.

West Virginia at a glance for the self-employed

West Virginians shop on HealthCare.gov, and full-price coverage here is the most expensive in the country. Two carriers sold plans for 2026, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia and CareSource. CareSource leaves at the end of 2026, so Highmark is expected to be the only Marketplace carrier for 2027. West Virginia health insurance guide.

• One carrier, rising prices. Highmark proposed an average increase of about 18% for 2027.
• The biggest subsidies in the country. The average West Virginia subsidy was about $1,244 a month in 2026. Lose it by crossing the 400% line and the jump is enormous.
• Medicaid expanded, with a work requirement starting in 2027.

The 400% line matters more here than most people expect. For 2027 the credit stops above $63,840 for one person and $132,000 for a family of four, and there is no phase-out. See the full 2027 income limits.

Your private options in West Virginia

• Short-term plans. West Virginia allows short-term coverage for up to 36 months including renewals. That length makes them tempting, but they usually exclude pre-existing conditions and often leave out prescriptions and maternity, so read the benefit summary line by line.
• Medically underwritten private plans. Health questions up front, often lower premiums for healthy applicants, broad PPO networks, and applications accepted any month.
• Supplemental coverage. Accident, critical-illness and hospital plans can soften a high deductible. How it works.

When private is the right call in West Virginia, and when it is not

With one carrier on HealthCare.gov for 2027 and the highest full-price premiums in the country, a healthy West Virginia freelancer or business owner over the subsidy line often saves real money with a private plan.

Stay with HealthCare.gov if you have an ongoing condition, are pregnant or planning to be, take expensive prescriptions, or qualify for a meaningful tax credit. If that is you, I will say so.

The tax piece

Most self-employed people can deduct their health insurance premiums, which also lowers the income that counts toward a subsidy. How it works for 1099 workers.

West Virginia questions I hear a lot

Which carriers sell Marketplace plans in West Virginia for 2027?

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia is expected to be the only one. CareSource leaves at the end of 2026.

Why is health insurance so expensive in West Virginia?

West Virginia has the highest average full-price Marketplace premiums in the country. Subsidies averaged about $1,244 a month in 2026.

Does West Virginia Medicaid have a work requirement?

Yes, starting in 2027 for the expansion group.

What if I earn more than 400% of the poverty level in West Virginia?

You pay the full price, which is the highest in the country. For healthy applicants a private medically underwritten plan can save a lot. I compare both at no cost.

Posey Health Solutions · National Producer Number 20609967 · licensed in West Virginia and 30 other states. This page is general information, not advice about a specific plan, and it is not tax advice. Plan availability, carrier participation, and duration limits vary by county, carrier, and plan year, and the rules can change.