Why we built this
ClearCoverage started from frustration. Not frustration with the Affordable Care Act itself, but with how difficult it is to find plain-language explanations of how it actually works when you're self-employed.
The problem we kept running into
When you search for help understanding marketplace insurance, most results fall into two categories. The first is official government documentation, which is accurate but dense. The second is broker websites, which are helpful but have a financial interest in what you choose. Neither category is quite right for someone who just wants to understand how the system works before talking to anyone.
We found ourselves explaining the same concepts over and over to friends and colleagues who had gone self-employed. What does actuarial value mean? Why would I pick Silver over Bronze if Bronze is cheaper? What's the actual tax benefit of an HSA and does it apply to my situation? These are answerable questions. They just weren't answered anywhere in plain English without an agenda attached.
What this site is, and what it isn't
ClearCoverage is an educational resource. It compiles and explains publicly available information from Healthcare.gov and related federal sources. We don't sell insurance. We don't have broker relationships. We don't receive commissions. Nothing on this site is personalized advice for your specific situation.
What we do is take the official information, which exists and is accurate, and present it in a way that a person who didn't study insurance can actually use. If you walk away from this site understanding what a deductible is, why Silver plans matter for subsidies, and how to estimate your true annual cost across two or three plans, we've done what we set out to do.
Why self-employed Americans specifically
Employees with employer-sponsored insurance have someone whose job it is to handle this. HR departments, benefits coordinators, and open enrollment guides all exist to make the decision manageable. When you're a freelancer, a contractor, a sole proprietor, or a small business owner without employees, you're on your own in a marketplace designed for institutional buyers.
The self-employed population faces unique complications: income that fluctuates month to month, the need to estimate annual income before you know what it will be, the self-employed health insurance deduction that interacts with subsidy calculations in non-obvious ways, and the absence of any employer contribution toward premiums. These are specific challenges that deserve specific explanations.
How we keep information current
Healthcare rules, income thresholds, HSA contribution limits, and subsidy calculations change each year. We publish quarterly updates noting what has changed and what remains the same. We link directly to official government sources so you can verify everything we explain. If something on this site conflicts with the current Healthcare.gov documentation, trust Healthcare.gov.
We also note on each page when information was last reviewed. The health insurance landscape is not static, and we don't pretend it is.
Our editorial principles
Source transparency
Every factual claim links to a government source. We don't invent numbers or use industry estimates without attribution. If we can't source it officially, we don't include it.
No recommendations
We explain how different plans and options work. We don't tell you what to choose. Choosing a health plan depends on personal health history, financial situation, and risk tolerance that only you can assess.
Regular updates
We review all content quarterly and update numbers, thresholds, and policy details when they change. Healthcare policy is not static and neither is this site.
Plain language only
We avoid jargon when plain language works. When we use technical terms, we define them immediately. The goal is understanding, not the appearance of expertise.