Georgia entrepreneur struggles to afford health insurance after decades of self‑employment

Amy Bielawski, a 61‑year‑old owner of an entertainment company in Tucker, Georgia, has spent most of her adult life without health insurance. For 32 years she has run a business that provides bounce houses, petting zoos, stilt walkers and other attractions for family and corporate events.

Bielawski’s work also includes quirky services such as face painting, balloon sculpting and even a singing telegram delivered while dressed as a chicken in a bikini. In one recent spring outing she performed a medley of songs for a night‑shift worker at a Waffle House, ending with a birthday twerk.

Her story illustrates a larger problem highlighted by STAT+: many solo business owners find health coverage prohibitively expensive. The series "Out of Pocket, Out of Reach" examines how rising health‑care costs leave independent workers without reliable insurance options.