While the options for Health Insurance can be costly, most employers I work with offer the AFLAC Suite of Supplementary Products for those everyday incidents that can occur, i.e. Accident, Critical Illness (heart plan), Cancer and Hospital. Because we are not an Insurance Company, these plans are available to the small business owners especially the self-employed.  If you have payroll they are pre-taxed.  We also offer Short Term Disability which is an after-tax deduction for you and the employees, even if they're 1099 contractors.