It has been said that the only real constant in the world is change, and as healthcare reform sweeps the nation, the aphorism rings true.

Micro-businesses (those with fewer than 10 employees) and the self-employed are no strangers to the difficulty of finding health coverage that is affordable, but the Affordable Care Act may complicate the challenge.

According to two MetLife studies, even with medical coverage, a critical illness such as a heart attack, stroke, or cancer can result in a family’s income being reduced by more than $12,000 in the first year alone due to the inability to work.