Moran Insurance Group
Licensed Insurance Brokers
Call us today
863-270-9820
Allied health travelers face the same contract-to-contract coverage problem as nurses, with more 1099 and per diem arrangements mixed in. Here is how to sort out which kind of worker you are and what that means for coverage.
Travel PTs, OTs, SLPs, respiratory therapists and imaging techs placed by a staffing agency are usually W-2 employees with agency benefits that start and stop with contracts. Allied pros who contract directly with clinics, home health companies or schools are often 1099 independent contractors with no benefits at all. W-2 travelers face gap risk; 1099 travelers buy their own plan and can deduct it.
| Arrangement | Health coverage | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| W-2 agency travel contract | Agency plan during the assignment | Gaps between contracts, new plan with each agency |
| 1099 direct contract | None; you buy your own | Going uninsured, or overpaying without a credit check |
| PRN or per diem | Usually none at part-time hours | Assuming the employer will cover you |
As a 1099 contractor you are self-employed. The Marketplace counts net income after business expenses, minus half of self-employment tax, so check where you land against the 2027 line before you assume a plan is full price. You can generally deduct premiums under the self-employed health insurance deduction, within its limits.
If you are healthy and over the line, a private plan built on a nationwide PPO network gives you one plan for every clinic and state you work in, and you can apply any month.
Self-employed and 1099 income is counted after expenses. Our free calculator shows which side of the 400% line you land on in about a minute, with results right away and no sign-up.
Agency-employed travel therapists usually get agency health insurance during assignments. Therapists who contract directly on a 1099 usually do not and buy their own.
Generally yes, through the self-employed health insurance deduction, up to the business's net profit and only for months you were not eligible for an employer-subsidized plan, including a spouse's.
For healthy travelers who work in several states a year, often yes, because it keeps one network across every assignment. If you have a health condition, a Marketplace plan is usually the safer choice.
Checked October 14, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm before you act.
Three quick taps and a ZIP code. One licensed broker calls you once with every plan you qualify for. Your information is never sold.
Start the 60-second form → Or call 863-270-9820, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm ET