Freelancers Form Own Health Insurer

A nonprofit group that serves self-employed individuals in the New York area has used to grants to set up an insurance company.

Freelancers Union, New York, says it has received $17 million in contributions from a group of foundations and funds.

The group is using the grants to start Freelancers Insurance Company Inc., New York, a for-profit insurer that will start by selling insurance to the 19,000 Freelancers Union members in the New York area.

Eventually, Freelancers Union hopes to make coverage available to all 93,000 U.S. members.