The Freelancers Union (FU) first got into many people’s minds on the New York City subway. The constructivist-style advertisements promoted what was once thought impossible: an organizing model for independent contractors, at once denouncing the current economic situation and embracing the power of freelancing.

As business trend articles have been saying been for some time, more and more work is dumped on freelance workers, not salaried ones. And while a freelancer can make good money, depending on the industry, payments diminish with the lack of employer-provided health insurance.

Over the years, the Freelancers Union built its name by promising to advocate for the independent worker in a way no other trade association had sought to do. It also marketed itself as a forum for members to find jobs. But above all, the FU offered reasonable group-rate health insurance. A union, and a health insurance company, were born.