# Hairstylists & Barbers — Coverage Checklist

*You rent the chair — own the plan.* Work through this before you shop or renew.

## Get your number right
- [ ] Start from: chair takings + tips (full year)
- [ ] Leaving tips out inflates the advance credit now and creates a repayment at tax time — include them from the start.
- [ ] Add all other household income (spouse W-2, side work) — the marketplace wants one combined figure

## The traps in your line of work
- [ ] Have an answer for: Assuming coverage is out of reach without ever running the numbers
- [ ] Have an answer for: Estimating income off chair takings instead of net profit after rent
- [ ] Have an answer for: Landing in the Medicaid coverage gap in a non-expansion state
- [ ] Have an answer for: Plans with thin specialist networks when the work causes predictable joint and skin issues

## Fast facts to remember
- **Booth rent** — deducts before your estimate
- **Tips** — count as income
- **CSR** — extra help on Silver plans

## Before you enroll
- [ ] List your doctors and check them against the plan network
- [ ] List prescriptions and check the formulary
- [ ] Compare at least two plans on deductible AND network, not premium alone

Full guide: https://bishopplans.com/health-insurance-for/ · Tools: https://bishopplans.com/health-insurance-for/tools/
Free to share. Not legal or tax advice.