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COVERAGE FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED Self-employed people are at double risk for the effects of sickness and injury.  Not only are they at risk for the direct costs of care for possible sickness or injury, but even temporary disability can cause lasting harm to a small business.  Self-employed people may get: individual health insurance, but this tends to be expensive; an Archer Medical Savings Account (MSA), which we will discuss later; group health insurance through a professional association, trade group, or Chamber of Commerce; or health insurance through a state-subsidized program for small groups or self-employed people. There are also some modest tax deduction advantages for self-employed people.  Anyone who itemizes tax deductions can generally deduct the difference between what they spend on unreimbursed medical expenses (including health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses) and 7.5% of adjusted gross income in a given year. Self-employed people who are not eligible for employer-based group health insurance coverage during a tax year can deduct all their health insurance premiums as business expenses, even if these costs are not over 7.5% of their adjusted gross income.  This deduction cannot be more than their earned income. COVERAGE FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED