What insurance do authors need?
- Three core insurance types: health, disability, professional liability.
- Health: required for US writers without employer coverage.
- Disability: income protection if you can’t write.
- Professional liability: defamation, libel, copyright defense.
- Costs vary widely; ~$500-$3,000/year for the three combined.
Authors typically need three insurance types: health insurance (US writers without spouse/employer coverage), disability insurance (income protection if you can’t write), and a professional liability policy (defamation coverage). Most full-time authors add health and disability in year 1-2; liability becomes relevant if the work involves real people or events.
Chapter i·Why it matters
Authors who lose health insurance mid-project face a crisis no royalty income can solve quickly. Disability insurance is the income shield that lets a writing career survive injury, illness, or burnout. Professional liability is rarely needed but catastrophic when it is. Treating these as line items in the business is part of treating writing as a career.
Chapter ii·What to include
- Health insurance: HealthCare.gov marketplace, spouse’s employer, or guild plans.
- Disability insurance: short-term + long-term coverage.
- Professional liability: required if work involves real people, libel risk.
- Umbrella policy: covers gaps if assets justify.
- Annual review: rates change, coverage needs change.
- A "self-employed deduction" check: health insurance is deductible for LLCs.
Chapter iii·Example
A working full-time author in year 3 buys ACA marketplace health insurance ($420/month), short-term disability ($85/month), and a $500/year professional liability policy (her work involves historical figures). Annual cost: ~$6,400. She deducts most of it through her LLC.
Chapter iv·Related questions
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