Solo owner
You're an individual buyer with the self-employed deduction. Price both markets.
You plus one
A spouse on payroll or one W-2 employee opens guaranteed-issue small-group coverage. Often the answer when one person has a condition.
3–50 employees
Level-funded and traditional group plans, deductible to the business. Under 50 there's no mandate to offer coverage. Alabama didn't expand Medicaid and one Blue Cross carrier dominates the marketplace, so self-employed people above the subsidy line often see very few choices — and few PPO options.