Bonfire in the Rain

07/23/2026

Yesterday I had two small business owners ask me about how to deduct health insurance premiums as a business expense. While I am definitely not a tax professional, and refer everyone to talk to their accountant, doing a bit of research goes a long way in helping people ask the right questions. In summary of this article, self employed folks cannot deduct their own (family included) health insurance premiums as a *business* expense, the health insurance premium deduction is on their Schedule 1 (1040).

Great questions to ask your CPA -
How can I deduct my health insurance premiums?
Are there any tax strategies I can use to reduce my income so that I can qualify for an ACA subsidy? (MAGI under 400% of the federal poverty guidelines gives families access to subsidies.)
If I want to deduct my own & dependents health insurance premiums is there another business structure that makes more sense in my situation? (I.e. S-corp or C-Corp)
What are the pros and cons of my current business structure vs another structure?

Part of my process in working with small business is helping them figure out what is the most affordable way to get coverage for their family and employees. Oftentimes a health share is more affordable, but health shares are not a tax deductible expense. Calculating the breakeven point between insurance vs a health share taking into account a potential tax deduction is part of the bigger picture. Choosing a plan is complicated from a personal health standpoint - even more so when a small business owner is looking at the financial health of their business.

If you are a small business owner wondering how to afford health insurance for your family, I would love to help light the way through the chaos. Comment LIGHT to get more information.

If you’re self-employed, you may be qualified to deduct health insurance premiums. See if you’re eligible & learn the deduction rules with the help from H&R Block.

06/10/2026

Signing up for a health insurance plan is one thing, actually understanding how to use it is another! Many folks leave a lot of care on the proverbial table, because they just don't understand the difference between copay, co-insurance, deductibles and preventative care. Or even how to find an in-network provider that matches their own philosophy. Let me clear up the confusion. I offer a free clarity call to shed light on how to use your insurance. Schedule one today!

Ready to Schedule Your Virtual Visit? Use the secure booking tool below to choose a time that works best for you. Once you’re scheduled, you will receive an email with next steps.

06/04/2026

https://rss.com/podcasts/holistic-matchmaker/2887321/
I just dropped my first podcast episode! In all it's imperfection , non-AI generated from the heart episode about why health care is like a bad blind date. Future episodes about health shares, what it really means to be in-network, interviews with holistic providers and lots of examples of how to access real health care in our sick care system!

Have you ever left a doctor's office feeling unheard and not helped? Have you been upset that you had to pay for visit that wasn't actually helpful? Or maybe you got a bill weeks after a procedure that wasn't disclosed to you at the time of service. All of these are reason why our health care system...

05/15/2026

If you or someone you know experiences a chronic illness, I came across this app that helps with pacing. There is a free version of the app that I am trying out. If the concept of pacing is new to you this video does a good job at explaining it. While motherhood is not a chronic illness, I think the concept of energy management makes sense for new moms too.
https://www.makevisible.com/pacing #

Post-exertional malaise (PEM) refers to the worsening of symptoms following physical, cognitive or emotional exertion.It isn’t just a feeling of general tiredness, but can include severe fatigue, pain, cognitive dysfunction, sleep disruption, and more.

05/13/2026

One of the things that frustrates me about healthcare is the lack of upfront information on how much a procedure will cost. I spoke to my insurance company today to get some information on how much two procedures would cost me and if they were even covered. While I was able to find out that yes they were covered by my plan, I was not able to find out how much it would cost me. I was told that I would be responsible for a 25% coinsurance for each procedure. Technically my insurance is supposed to have a cost estimate page (which I could not find in my portal) and with the correct CPT code I would know what it would cost. However I don't know the CPT code they plan to use. Which means that I need to call the facility that I plan to have the procedure at, to find out what the cost should be for a medical procedure. Let me just say that the procedures are routine-ish stuff, nothing earth shattering or stressful. But what if they were - what if I had just gotten a diagnosis that shook my world - and now have to navigate not only the care that is needed but the financial burden it would cause. I am more than an insurance agent selling a product, I am the person who will help people find resources to manage the health challenge. Like this cost estimator. It is not perfect but it can begin to paint a financial picture of how much your healthcare may cost you. From this I can say that one of my procedures is a $25 co-insurance, and the other one is $100-200 (on the low end), and that is a big maybe. So I will postpone the expensive one until it seems necessary.

Welcome to FAIR Health

05/05/2026

As part of the work I do guiding folks in the health insurance realm, I specialize in the pre-pregnancy and birth worlds. All the years I spent in maternal health gives me a view of insurance and medical cost shares that few others agents possess. I believe it is a necessary part of the "I want a baby" process to consider how one is going to pay for the birth. If you or someone you know is planning a family and wants to understand options before things are locked in (i.e. pregnancy), you can learn more here:
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Planning a pregnancy? Get help choosing health insurance before pregnancy so your coverage supports your birth experience and avoids costly surprises.

04/29/2026

https://bonfireintherain.com/my-health-journey-and-the-reality-of-finding-care/

Uncategorized My Health Journey and the Reality of Finding Care ByLisa Bloom April 27, 2026April 29, 2026 The last thing I am supposed to be doing right now is writing a blog post according to my AI guides. I have just (mostly) recovered from yet another illness, nothing “big”, just a cold. It i...

11/18/2025

🌀 The ACA Möbius Strip: A Coverage Paradox That Keeps Me Up at Night
As a health insurance agent, I often help self-employed women in their 50s and 60s navigate the complexities of ACA coverage. But there’s one scenario that feels like a Möbius strip—an endless loop with no clear “right side.”
Imagine a 57-year-old woman earning $70K/year. Her premiums are $11K/year. She deducts those premiums, lowering her MAGI to $59K—just under the 400% FPL cliff, qualifying her for a subsidy.
But if she doesn’t buy insurance, she loses the deduction… and her MAGI jumps back to $70K, disqualifying her from any subsidy.
It’s a loop:
• No insurance → no deduction → no subsidy.
• No subsidy → insurance may be unaffordable.
Like a Möbius strip, it’s hard to find the side that leads to stability.
🧩 Have you seen this play out? Are there creative ways to break the loop—HSA strategies, retirement contributions, income timing?
Let’s share insights that help our clients—and ourselves—stay covered and empowered.