You're self-employed, running a crew, or working for a small shop with no benefits. TradesFirst Health finds health, accident, and disability coverage for plumbing professionals — with a licensed advisor who understands trade work. Completely free. Zero pressure.
That number doesn't include the additional contractors who carry minimum-tier ACA plans they don't understand and never use. The coverage gap in the plumbing trade is the largest of any skilled trade in America.
The plumbing trade is essential, skilled, and physically demanding — yet over a third of licensed plumbers and plumbing contractors in the U.S. have no health insurance. The reason isn't carelessness. It's structural.
Most plumbing work is done through small businesses with fewer than 10 employees that can't afford or don't know how to set up group coverage, or through self-employment where the full premium cost falls on one person without an HR department to walk them through subsidy eligibility.
The result: a single back injury, a hernia, a burst appendix, or a worksite accident can generate tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills with no coverage to absorb the impact. TradesFirst Health was built specifically for plumbing professionals who need real guidance — not generic insurance websites that don't understand your work.
Six lines of protection — from health and dental to accident, disability, and group benefits — all matched to the realities of trade work.
ACA marketplace and off-exchange options for self-employed licensed plumbers and independent contractors. We calculate your subsidy eligibility, compare every carrier in your state, and match the right plan to your doctors and prescriptions.
Pays scheduled cash benefits directly to you when you're injured in a covered accident — on the job or off. For plumbing work in confined spaces, with chemical exposure and heavy pipe handling, this coverage is essential.
If a back injury, hernia, surgery, or serious illness takes you off the job, short-term disability replaces 60–70% of your income. For self-employed plumbers with no paid sick leave, this is the difference between recovering and going into financial crisis.
Group health insurance for plumbing businesses with 2–20 employees. A well-structured group plan lets you offer competitive benefits that attract licensed technicians, reduce turnover, and qualify for business tax deductions.
Trade work puts real physical stress on your teeth — grinding from physical exertion, delayed dental care from busy schedules, and exposure to chemical environments make dental coverage essential for plumbing professionals.
A heart attack, cancer diagnosis, or stroke pays you a lump-sum cash benefit regardless of what your health insurance covers. For the physical demands of plumbing work, this provides a financial backstop against a catastrophic health event.
★★★★★"I've been doing plumbing for 12 years and always thought insurance was too expensive. TradesFirst Health found me a Blue Cross plan that actually fit my income. I had no idea I qualified for that kind of subsidy. The advisor called me within an hour of submitting the form."
★★★★★"I run a 6-person crew and never had group coverage. TradesFirst set up a group plan that my guys are genuinely happy with. Two of them actually stayed because of it when they were looking at other shops."
★★★★★"I'm an apprentice and had no idea how to get my own insurance. The TradesFirst advisor explained everything — including the accident insurance which I didn't even know existed. The whole thing was free and took one phone call."
A single ER visit for a workplace injury generates medical bills that can take years to pay off without insurance — and most uninsured plumbers absorb the full charge personally.
A back injury serious enough to keep you off the truck for two months means two months of income lost with no replacement — unless you have short-term disability coverage in place.
Hernia surgery — one of the most common trade injuries — requires recovery that can sideline a self-employed plumber for 3–6 weeks. Without disability, the recovery is also a financial crisis.
TradesFirst Health helps you transfer that risk to an insurance carrier for a manageable monthly premium that often surprises clients on the low end of the range.
Tell us your state, age, household size, and whether you're self-employed or running a crew. Takes under 2 minutes.
A TradesFirst advisor compares every carrier in your state, evaluates accident and disability options, and calculates subsidy eligibility.
Not a list of 40 options. One clear recommendation for your health plan, with add-on options explained in plain English.
We handle the paperwork. Most plumbing professionals are fully covered within 48 hours of the first call.
You're your own boss. No employer benefits, no HR, no group plan. We find individual plans with the right network, the right deductible, and the right premium for your household income and health needs.
You want to offer benefits to keep good technicians, but setting it up alone seems complicated. We handle everything — carrier comparison, employee enrollment, Section 125 setup — at no cost to you.
New to the trade, first time buying your own health insurance. We walk you through every option clearly, check your ACA subsidy eligibility, and get you covered fast.
COBRA costs too much between union jobs. ACA marketplace plans are a real and often cheaper alternative. We compare your options objectively so you're not overpaying for bridge coverage.
TradesFirst Health advisors understand the plumbing trade. A few quick questions and a licensed advisor will compare every option available to you — health, accident, disability, and group plans — and call within 24 hours with a clear recommendation.
We'll tailor your options based on who needs coverage.
Straight answers for plumbing professionals from licensed advisors who actually understand trade work.
Absolutely. Self-employed plumbers are eligible for ACA marketplace plans, and many qualify for meaningful premium tax credits depending on income and household size. The key is having a licensed advisor calculate your exact subsidy eligibility before you assume coverage is unaffordable. Many plumbing professionals find their effective monthly cost is significantly lower than they expected.
The best plan depends on your state, your income, whether you have a family, and which doctors and hospitals you use. In most states, Blue Cross Blue Shield plans have the broadest networks and the most flexibility. For plumbing contractors earning moderate income, Silver-tier ACA plans with cost-sharing reductions often provide the best value. TradesFirst Health advisors compare every option in your specific state and county.
Yes. Accident insurance pays scheduled cash benefits for covered injuries — including ER visits, fractures, lacerations requiring stitches, burns, dislocations, and surgery following an accident. It pays you directly — not to a hospital or contractor — so you can use the funds for medical bills, mortgage payments, or any other expense during recovery.
Yes. Self-employed individuals — including licensed plumbers and plumbing contractors — can deduct 100% of health insurance premiums paid for themselves and their families from their federal income tax. This deduction applies even if you take the standard deduction. It's one of the most valuable tax benefits available to self-employed tradespeople.
In most states, you need a minimum of 2 eligible full-time employees (including yourself as the owner) to qualify for small group coverage. With a crew of 4, you have multiple group plan options from major carriers. TradesFirst Health handles the entire setup — carrier selection, employee enrollment, Section 125 cafeteria plan (pre-tax payroll savings), and annual renewal — at no cost to your business.
Short-term disability replaces 60–70% of your income if illness or injury prevents you from working — typically for up to 6 months to 2 years depending on the policy. For self-employed plumbers with no paid sick leave, this is often the most important financial protection available. A back injury that sidelines you for 10 weeks means 10 weeks of income lost — disability coverage prevents that from becoming a financial crisis.
Qualifying life events trigger a 60-day Special Enrollment Period that allows enrollment outside of Open Enrollment (November 1 – January 15). Qualifying events include: losing existing coverage, getting married, having a child, or moving to a new state or county. Starting a new business as a self-employed plumber may also qualify in some states. TradesFirst Health advisors can determine your eligibility for a Special Enrollment Period at any time.
ACA marketplace options, subsidy calculation, HSA strategy, and the one tax deduction most plumbers miss — a plain-English guide written specifically for plumbing contractors.
Read the GuideThe difference between health insurance and accident insurance for tradespeople — what accident coverage actually pays, how it supplements your health plan, and why every plumber working without it is accepting unnecessary financial risk.
Read the GuideHow small plumbing businesses can offer health benefits that attract and retain licensed technicians — including Section 125 tax savings, minimum employee requirements, and a real cost breakdown.
Read the Guide