How To Deal With Sickness When Self-Employed

As the Republican Senate discusses health care reform, many freelancers find themselves facing the prospect of rising health insurance costs. A new version of the health bill would permit insurers to market all types of plans, as long as they also offer ones that comply with Affordable Care Act standards. The measure would also allow small businesses and companies to take into account people’s health status in determining whether to insure them and at what price. Of course, the new bill is a major change for those of us who are self-employed business owners.

Unfortunately, it’s all but impossible to avoid getting sick. You’re bound to have to cope with sickness at some point, and as a self-employed worker, you can’t simply take a paid sick day. It’s important to prepare financially for the impact an illness might have on your productivity as well as your medical bills. Taking out adequate health insurance is essential so long as it fits your own personal circumstances. But, there are also a few more things that you can do to ensure that an unexpected illness doesn’t derail your business or leave a dent in your bank account.

Build An Emergency Fund

When you’re sick, the last thing your body needs is additional stress weighing on an already taxed immune system. If you have to take a couple of days off work without pay, you shouldn’t be worrying about paying the rent the following month. It’s important to have enough money saved away to pay for rent, food, utilities, and other frugal living necessities in the event of an emergency. A healthy savings account also ensures that you’ll be able to get the medical treatment you need without worrying about the cost.

Enlist Help

Before getting sick, you should have a plan in place that allows you to take time off work. You should make arrangements to communicate with clients, letting them know that you’re sick and how that will impact project deadlines using a well-thought-out email template. Ideally, you should aim to get work in on time even if you have to take a couple of sick days. The best way to ensure that assignments get done on time, even in the event of a health emergency, is to make an agreement with another trusted freelancer in your field. You won’t have to worry about working, your client will be happy, and you’ll build a stronger relationship with your professional peers.

Rest And Recuperate

The most important thing to do when you get sick is to give yourself enough time to rest and recover. You shouldn’t force yourself to exert energy and do work, as this will just prolong the recovery period for any illness or injury. Follow the doctor’s orders and allow yourself to sleep and relax until you’re feeling better. Then, you will be ready to get back to your remote work and perform at your best. As a result, you business will benefit from a focused and well rested owner doing work.

Image from http://www.bmmagazine.co.uk/news/self-employed-value-receiving-sick-pay-benefits/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Scroll To Top