As a small business owner, how are you affording health insurance for your employees, let alone yourself and/or family?

I operate a landscape design company. It’s me and one full time employee. S corp LLC, and both myself and my employee salaries are paid via W2.

My household is my wife and our 2 daughters. We are a single income family. Savings are null, debt is high, but income is high enough now that Medicaid dropped us a month ago.

I was quoted $30,000 for bronze level insurance for my family and the employee per year. The business cannot afford an additional $2500/month payment at this time. In the future, with increased workflow and more employees, I hope that changes.

But in the meantime, what the hell are ya’ll doing? I cannot justify paying this much. Even if I apply for myself through my state’s subsidized policies, I’m looking at $450 per month just for myself. My wife and daughters are currently covered by CHIP, but that will change next year). It will be $1600/month for all of us when that changes.

Again, how are you affording this? Any other people in this boat?