By NYU Staff

Freelancing can be an alluring option, especially since traditional media companies have cut down on staff writers and aren’t hiring as much. But the insecurity of not having group insurance offered by an employer is frightening, and the options for finding insurance can be confusing to navigate alone.

One well-advertised option is the Freelancer’s Union, which offers a plan that is usually cheaper than venturing out alone.

But instead of trying to rehash what’s already been written on health insurance plans available for freelancers, I’ll point to a couple of good articles that provide a thorough, clear review. This piece, Tips for Choosing Freelance Health Insurance, lists some surprising options, like talking with your city’s Chamber of Commerce about available plans.

Another piece, excerpted from Beth Kobliner’s book, “Get a Financial Life,” includes a few more options, like this advice for young people trying to get health insurance: “Under federal law, you can continue to receive your parents’ coverage for 18 months if your parents make the request within 60 days after they’re notified that your coverage is about to lapse. You will have to pay for this converage, but the price will probably be less than the price of a similar policy you could get on your own.”

Even with these solid resources, it can be a pain to worry about getting a good deal and making sure you’re well-covered. There is some good news – at least one outlet– Demand Media, is offering health insurance to its freelancers. The company announced that it would start including some freelancers in a plan that might halve their medical insurance costs.

Do I smell a trend? Let’s hope so!