Insurance in the Gig Economy

Insurance for the Gig Economy:

It seems like there's some new term created every day that we have no idea where it came from. Insert "Gig Economy" here. 
So what is the Gig Economy?  Simply put, it is the portion of the population that works as independent contractors, short-term/temporary workers, online workers and folks that perform work in an on-demand fashion. They are non-employees. WE are non-employees. 
So what's the big deal? This creates a huge shift in the way we work and what we value as workers. People are starting to value their own time and lifestyle in lieu of becoming the next great corporate executive. As a result, companies have to change the way they do business and consider what's important in terms of employee retention, their labor market, and how they will deal with the change. Some companies are embracing it and using it as an advantage, while others are struggling to keep and attract talent in-house. The population of gig workers is increasing year after year. Looking across different sources, we make up 30+% of the working population. Now consider the fact that it includes people that work in industries like rideshare (Uber/Lyft), delivery services (DoorDash), etc.; however, high-level professionals make up a large percentage of the population and have the largest earnings. The bottom line is that it changes how companies make decisions.  
My Story... I worked in technology for over 20 years in various positions before making the transition to insurance. I have not been an employee since 2001. I was laid off by my employer right after the 9/11 tragedy; and I wasn't the only one. I realized at that moment that companies were not going to be loyal and sacrifice for their employees. The objective is to always meet the bottom line for shareholders; not to necessarily take care of employees. I made the decision to strike out on my own and be an independent contractor. Fortunately, I had a skillset that kept me busy and it kept growing. I made a great living and was able to provide for my family. On some level, I felt good about the fact that I was able to keep it going and was never out of work more than a couple weeks due to transitioning. 
Sounds great, doesn't it? Well, it was as long as my wife at the time was an employee...kinda. While the money I earned was great, I realized that I had lost the highly sought after "benefits package" that employers provide. I NEEDED that. Again, I was fortunate that I had a spouse that could provide health insurance to pay for doctor visits and the like. She was able to establish a 401k and a retirement plan. On the flip side, I was not. I didn't have enough financial literacy to understand how to do this on my own. So I went through life thinking that I would one day some how "magically" change that. Let me tell you, there is no magic; there is only make a decision and act on it. And there I was, many years later and I still hadn't made that decision nor acted on it. I had figured out how to replace the health insurance, disability, and even stumbled upon life insurance. But that retirement thing was a bust! Moral of the story, don't be like me. 
Why do I care? I'll say it again...don't be like me. 
When I ask gig workers or those that want to be a gig worker what they are lacking the most...they all say one thing...BENEFITS.
My mission now is to make sure as many "gig workers" as possible don't suffer the consequences of not pulling together a full "benefits package" for themselves and their loved ones. I have taken the time to figure out how to avoid this happening to these individuals.  As a gig worker, you can control your benefits package just like you have decided to take control of your lifestyle. You no longer have to rely on a company to provide those benefits; create your own. I can show you how.