Two markets for the self-employed
Subsidy-eligible after business expenses → NY State of Health. Above the subsidy line and healthy → private PPO on MagnaCare PPO, priced on your health rather than your income. Serious condition → marketplace regardless.
The deduction
New York (and New York City) income taxes are among the highest in the country, so the self-employed premium deduction is worth real money here. Self-employed people deduct 100% of premiums above the line on either kind of plan, and can stack HSA contributions on an HSA-eligible plan.
Who we see most in New York
Realtors, contractors, consultants, drivers, salon owners, and anyone running a business from New York City, Long Island, Buffalo and across the state. New York uses pure community rating — a 25-year-old and a 64-year-old pay the same marketplace premium — and the state restricts most non-ACA plans. Private options in New York are narrower than in other states, so the honest answer here is usually a careful comparison, not a promise of savings.