Health Insurance Built for Home Inspectors, Not Desk Jobs
Most brokers quote a home inspector the same way they'd quote a software engineer - off W-2 worksheets, with carriers that flag ladder work as a hazard surcharge. Foundation Health does the opposite. We pre-place 1099 inspectors with carriers that read the trade correctly, price your premium off projected Schedule C net income, and walk you through the self-employed health insurance deduction so the cost on screen is your real after-tax number.
Why inspectors need an inspector-specific plan
Inspection work doesn't look like an office job, and pricing it like one costs you money. The two things that matter most:
Ladder, roof, and crawlspace exposure
Three out of four general brokers will misclassify routine inspection work as physical-labor risk, surcharge the premium, or kick the application to a substandard carrier pool. We pre-place with carriers that underwrite home inspectors at standard rates - no carve-out, no surcharge.
1099 income that varies by season
ACA subsidies are calculated on projected annual household income - and inspectors who project realistically (including slow winters and busy spring buying seasons) can capture $3,000 - $5,000 in annual subsidy that gets quoted away when a generic broker uses gross income instead of Schedule C net.
Plan types that fit an inspection business
ACA Marketplace (Silver tier, most inspectors)
Subsidy-eligible plans with Cost-Sharing Reductions for Silver tier in the right income band. Often the best fit for solo 1099 inspectors earning $30K-$95K Schedule C net. Foundation will run your actual numbers before suggesting a tier.
Off-Marketplace (Bronze HDHP + HSA)
Lower premium, higher deductible, with a Health Savings Account that doubles as a tax-advantaged retirement vehicle. Good for healthier inspectors with cash reserves who'd rather pre-fund medical and harvest the deduction.
PPO for commercial / multi-state inspectors
If your inspection business covers more than one metro - commercial portfolio work, due-diligence transactions, multi-state PPO emphasis (BCBS, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare) keeps your network intact wherever the job sends you.
ICHRA / Level-funded for franchise offices
Once you have W-2 inspectors in addition to yourself, ICHRA and level-funded structures typically cost less than a comparable fully-insured small group plan while letting each inspector pick their own plan.
What inspector ACA plans actually cover
- ER, urgent care, hospitalization - including ladder, roof, and crawlspace injuries
- Primary care, specialists, orthopedic and physical therapy
- Respiratory specialist visits, pulmonary testing, prescription inhalers
- Lab work (heavy-metal panels, mold biomarkers) when ordered
- Generic and brand-name Rx with copay tiers
- Telehealth - $0 - $25 per visit, useful between inspections
- Mental health and burnout coverage at parity with physical health
- Preventive care at 100% (annual physical, screenings, vaccines)
- Maternity and newborn care on family plans
What an inspector ACA plan costs in 2025
Illustrative after-subsidy ranges for inspectors like you (actual pricing depends on state, age, and household income):
Schedule C and the self-employed health insurance deduction
If you're a sole-proprietor or single-member LLC home inspector, 100% of your premiums (and your spouse and dependents') are deductible above the line on Form 1040 Schedule 1, line 17. It's NOT a Schedule C line item directly, but it reduces your AGI and self-employment tax base. Our advisors model this against your projected 1040 before quoting - so the cost we show you is your real after-tax premium, not the marketplace sticker price.
When you can enroll
Open Enrollment runs Nov 1 - Jan 15 in most states. Outside that window, qualifying life events open Special Enrollment Periods. For inspectors specifically:
- Newly going 1099 (leaving a W-2 firm to inspect independently) IS a qualifying event
- Losing employer coverage when an inspection firm closes or restructures
- Marriage, divorce, baby, or moving across state lines
- Dropping off a parent's plan at 26
Get a free quote built around your inspection business.
Two minutes. No SSN. A licensed advisor who quotes inspectors emails your options within one business hour.