Looking for help regarding health insurance options. I'm over 65 and on Medicare. My wife is under 65 so she can't enroll yet. She has been on Cobra/extension health insurance that expires on Dec-31. So, she needs health insurance starting Jan-1. We're in Houston.

Tried the ACA/Obamacare route: only HMO options are available; no PPO options. And the HMO options are lame.

She has 2 part-time jobs: one self-employed and one part-time at a small office company (currently 18 hrs/week).

Not sure what our options are form LLC and get group insurance? Do you need 2 unrelated people for the LLC using this strategy? Anybody experienced helping people with issues like this?

I can reach out by phone/email.

You need two unrelated W2 employees and run regular payroll for the LLC to qualify for company-sponsored health plans.

My firm uses Wendy Bowser for our health plan needs. She's been great to work with over the last few years.

Unless the rules have changed, you can have two related people start a group policy.

My dad and I had one...and he waivered out because of his Medicare eligibility, so it was really a group of one.

Still expensive as hell and lousy terms, but it did give us PPO access.

Yeah we have this setup in an LLC with my wife and I as the 2 members and one child. Bcbs PPO and it is going up 19 percent in 2026. Crazy expensive

appreciate the help - we've reached out to Bowser

Have you looked into any of those health share companies?

I did that while a one-man shop S-Corp and didn't have any problems.

Is Medi-Share a viable option? I always wonder when I hear their commercials.

Texags LLC

Are y'all members of any professional organizations or other groups that might offer health insurance access?

I think Costco members might have access?
https://www.costco.com/health-insurance-marketplace.html

This UHC offers non-aca plans. Don't know if they suck or might fit your needs/budget:
https://www.uhone.com/?leadSourceName=UnitedHealthOne&salesChannel=Estore%20Broker%20Link

TRIDENT said:

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Is Medi-Share a viable option? I always wonder when I hear their commercials.

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We did medi share through Samaritan ministries for a few years. It worked well for us during that time.

You pay your monthly premium directly to other members in need.

We were basically on the hook for the first $300 of expenses for anything. So most stuff was just cash pay. But if something expensive happened, we would have paid $300 to the provider, then over the next few months, other members would have been paying their monthly payment directly to us to cover the expenses.

A couple of years ago, Texas Farm Bureau started offering a group health care plan that worked for us. You have to have a $45 annual TXFB for one member of your family, but it's a reasonable deductible and monthly premium, especially compared to some other options we have tried in the past. I think we applied online and anyone over 40 had to submit some basic bloodwork (cost us $15 at Quest).