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How Realtors in California Pay Less for Health Insurance (Real Examples)
Three representative scenarios from California agents, with the numbers. These are illustrations, not guarantees — your price depends on your age, health and ZIP.
Example 1: the over-the-cliff agent, Los Angeles
Age 47, healthy, $140,000 in commissions. Was paying about $820/month full price on Covered California. Moved to a private PPO on Cigna, Aetna and PHCS PPO at about $410/month with a lower deductible. Savings: roughly $4,900 a year.
Example 2: the agent who actually qualified, San Diego
Age 38, gross $78,000, but after expenses and a SEP-IRA contribution MAGI was $54,000 — under the line. Had never applied through Covered California. A subsidized Silver plan came in around $190/month versus the $610 she was paying directly to a carrier.
Example 3: the family, San Jose
Couple, 52 and 50, two teens, $190,000 household. Full-price family marketplace plan: about $2,100/month. Private family PPO: about $1,150/month. Savings: roughly $11,000 a year. Both parents healthy; the plan was underwritten and approved in two days.
What they had in common
None of them had ever seen both markets side by side. California has the highest top state income tax rate in the country, so the self-employed health premium deduction is worth real money here.
Check your options and we'll run your scenario.