The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) and UnitedHealthcare’s Golden Rule Insurance Company have teamed up to offer new personal health insurance choices to entrepreneurs, micro-business owners and other self-employed businesspeople.

The new health plans for individuals and families are offered in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. The health insurance options include co-pay plans similar to traditional employer-sponsored coverage as well as high deductible health plans that work in tandem with health savings accounts.

NASE members choosing one of the health plans also will have access to UnitedHealthcare’s network of physicians and health care professionals and hospitals. Network discounts can result in additional savings to consumers, even before they meet their annual deductibles.

Robert Hughes, president of NASE, said: “The NASE has a long history of advocating for lower costs, increased access and parity for the self-employed when it comes to health coverage. But our members and all micro-business owners need options today that provide both choice and meaningful coverage.”

Richard Collins, CEO and president of UnitedHealthcare’s Golden Rule Isurance, said: “We are pleased to work with NASE to make quality health insurance coverage available for the large number of self-employed men and women who are dealing with rising health care costs in a difficult economy.”