Are you a musician without health insurance? You’re
not alone. As musicians ourselves we know there are significant
hurdles to obtaining health insurance, especially if you’re
trying to make a career as a musician. In 2002 we conducted
an online survey to
ask musicians about health insurance. Of the 2,700 folks who
answered the survey, 44 percent did NOT have health insurance. This
is much higher than the national average of the uninsured, which
hovers around 18 percent. Of the folks who did not have health insurance,
76 percent said that they couldn’t afford it, while the remainder
were split between confusion about plans and where to start, and
feeling it was a waste of money.
It’s true, health insurance is expensive, even more so if
you’re a certain age, a smoker, or are living in certain parts
of the country. And while it may feel like a waste of money,
insurance is invaluable in protecting you from financial misery brought
on by an accident or a major medical issue.
There are no magic answers to the cost problem – and it gets
worse every year – but we do hope that HINT can help musicians
overcome some of the hurdles that make getting health insurance such
a difficult task by a) explaining the essential parts of health insurance
and b) giving musicians access to advice about where to start the
process of obtaining insurance.
Let’s start with a review of the seven paths to health insurance. Click
on the links in each section for related articles.
If you are employed, make sure you’re not missing out
on an employer-sponsored plan. Or if you are married, are
you able to get on your spouse’s plan? Working for Widgets, Inc. might not be your end goal, but one
of the advantages of working in the corporate world is the benefits
offered by larger employers. Before you explore these other
routes, make sure you are not missing out on any benefits offered
by your current employer or, if you’re married, your spouse’s
employer. Given the advantages of group coverage (including
guaranteed coverage – even for folks with pre-existing
conditions) it is important to review these options with your company’s
Human Resources representatives before you go one step further.
If you’re about to purchase individual coverage, know
what you’re looking for. If you’re about to pursue purchasing individual health
insurance coverage, do some thorough research into the range of
options, and evaluate your own needs and priorities. Would you
like to pay as little as possible per month, but just guarantee
that you’d be covered in the event of a catastrophe? Are
you able to pay more per month in order to have a lower deductible?
Read the articles below to understand the most important components
of health insurance plans.
If you’re signed to a major label, you may already be
eligible for coverage If you’re in a band that’s signed a contract with
one of the five …er…four major labels, you may already
be eligible for coverage. In a September 2003 agreement brokered
between the major labels and AFTRA, the nation's five major record
labels agreed for the first time to make health benefits available
for all artists on their rosters.
If you’re on another label, buy your own coverage but
ask your label representative about getting reimbursed fully
for this cost. Although the AFTRA Code signatories
includes all five major labels and nearly 1,200 subsidiaries,
there are many large independent labels that are not signatories
to that agreement. If you’re signed to one of these labels,
there are other options you can pursue, especially during the
initial contract negotiation process.
If the label does not have a specific health insurance plan for its artists,
urge your attorney to discuss adding a clause in your contract that will
allow you/your band to purchase and administer your own plan, with full reimbursement
from your label for the monthly premium costs.
Both the label and the artists benefit when artists under contract have health
insurance – musicians are able to schedule checkups and avert major
crises or get emergency assistance, which makes it more likely they’ll
be able to continue creating and performing. Talk to your label representative
and your attorney, explaining that you’ll administer and pay for your
own plan each month, with the expectation that the label would fully reimburse
you for this cost on a regular basis.
Understand the benefits of incorporating your band
Whether you’re signed to a label or not, consider incorporating your
band and treat it as a small business. This action leads to a number
of benefits, including tax. As an added bonus, you can look into the small
business group insurance plans that many insurance providers offer, as opposed
to the more expensive option of individual plans for each band member. With
a small business group plan, the monthly premium can either be paid by the
band itself (if your band is generating that much revenue) or each band member
can chip in to cover her/his share of the premium each month.
We are working on an article about the benefits of incorporating
Know about the plans or resources offered by the musicians’ unions,
PROs and other music advocacy groups Both of the music unions – AFM and AFTRA – offer
insurance benefits to their members. If you are a member
of these unions, or work in a field where you participate in union-related
work, make sure you know about these plans.
AFTRA: The AFTRA Health and Retirement Fund offers its
members two health plans: an Individual Health Plan and a
Family Health Plan. Both plans include hospital, major medical,
prescription drug, mental health and chemical dependency, wellness
and dental programs. In addition, both plans provide members,
but not dependents, with life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment
(AD&D) insurance and loss of voice.
Qualifying for these benefits can be tough. AFTRA members must have earned
at least $10,000 but less than $30,000 in four consecutive calendar quarters
or less for union gigs – work done for an employer who’s signed
onto a collective bargaining agreement that provides for contributions to
the AFTRA Health Fund. However, as noted here, this minimum earnings qualification
can be met through major label payments if you are an artist under exclusive
contract. There’s
a lot more information about their plan on this website. http://www.aftrahr.com/
ASCAP, BMI and SESAC: All three US performance rights
organizations list health insurance benefits as one of the advantages
of joining. All three point to MusicPro
Insurance as a way
for musicians to insure their instruments, as well as gain access
to health insurance. MusicPro Insurance is not an actual health insurance
broker. Instead, MusicPro guides users towards the eHealthInsurance.com for quotes from an array of individual or small group plans. Be
aware that you don’t need to be a member of ASCAP, BMI or SESAC
to access the eHealthInsurance.com quoting network.
Understand what’s available to you in your state/city.
Many states offer health insurance coverage for low income residents, children,
seniors, people with disabilities and veterans. Because the options
vary widely from state to state, we urge to you visit these two websites
for more information:
Artists Health Insurance Resource Center: Created by
the nonprofit Actors' Fund, this is an extremely comprehensive,
state-by-state research tool for individual artists and small
business groups looking for health insurance. Includes information
on state-funded programs, Medicare/Medicaid, and tips for self-employed
and small businesses.
The State Insurance Gateway: This site provides
links to each state's insurance department. This resource
is part of Insure.com, a comprehensive, consumer-oriented
information source for all types of insurance.
Health
Alliance for Austin Musicians provides access to
affordable health care for Austin, TX's uninsured musicians,
focusing on prevention and wellness. If you are an uninsured,
professional musician in the Austin, TX area, you may be
eligible for low-cost primary health care services, basic
dental care and mental health counseling provided by HAAM.
SIMS
Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides
access to low-cost mental health services for Austin, TX musicians
and their immediate families. SIMS is dedicated entirely to
musicians' assistance. Named in loving memory of Sims Ellison,
the SIMS Foundation was founded to prevent suicides in the
Austin music community.
Where to Turn if You’re in Serious Straights In addition to health insurance plans, you should also know
about two charity organizations set up to help musicians in crisis.
MusiCares Foundation: Operated by the Recording Academy,
the Musicares Foundation ensures that music people have a place
to turn in times of financial, medical or personal crisis. Its
Emergency Financial Assistance program offers financial assistance
for medical expenses including doctor, dental and hospital
bills, prescriptions, addiction recovery treatment, psychotherapy,
treatment for HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and other
critical illnesses, as well as basic living expenses such as
rent and utilities. It also offers Addiction Recovery
Programs that offers financial and support group assistance
for artists and crew struggling with addiction issues.
Sweet Relief: Founded by singer/songwriter Victoria
Williams who is battling multiple sclerosis, Sweet Relief is
a charity organization that provides financial assistance to
all types of career musicians who are facing illness, disability,
or age-related problems. Sweet Relief provides financial assistance
to musicians of all kinds for medical expenses, alternative
therapies, treatment for alcohol or chemical dependency, prescriptions,
and living expenses if the artist is unable to work. Sweet
Relief also has a new financial assistance program especially
for retired or semi-retired older musicians, which helps pay
living expenses.
Health
Alliance right prescription for uninsured musicians Nearly
500 musicians have signed up for care this year, provided by Austin's
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians Austin American Statesman, March 13, 2006
Musicians who
juggle jobs say latest cuts are too great Shreveport Symphony musicians struggle with paycuts and reductions in health
insurance coverage Shreveport Times, February 14, 2006
Coverage and Access
NPR's Ed Gordon interviews David Nathan, chair of the R&B Foundation,
about the lack of health insurance coverage among many musicians. According
to Nathan, many people assume that recording and performing artists "have
some huge amount of money that they generate, but that's just not the case.
NPR's News and Notes with Ed Gordon January
20, 2006
Soundman Versus Flesh-Eating Bacteria. His next challenge: a six-figure
medical bill Chicago musicians organize benefits to help soundman Gary Schepers Chicago Reader, January 6, 2006
Band Aid: Musicians Taking Care of their Own Chicago musicians and labels organize benefits to help soundman Gary Schepers Chicago Tribune, January 20, 2006
Most Temp, Part-Time Workers Lack Job-Linked Health Insurance
Commonwealth Fund study shows that only 21 percent of America's 34 million
part-time workers have health insurance from their job. Forbes, December 1, 2005
A New Pension for Struggling Artists Though it's about visual artists, an interesting article about artists pooling
their resources to create long-term security.
by Julie Salamon New
York Times, July 20, 2004
Band Aid for an Ailing Musician Almost 90 percent of the musicians surveyed
had played a benefit for another musician, though even the most successful
benefit seldom makes more than a symbolic dent in typically huge
health care debts.
By Richard Harrington Washington Post, April 9, 2004
Health Insurance Crisis Lingers for Biz The number of uninsured musicians remains high
By Chris Morris Billboard, March 13, 2004
Songs in the Key of Major Medical
By Peter Margasak Chicago Reader, November 28, 2003
Chic drummer Tony Thompson dies Thompson, who was also one of the world's most famous session musicians,
died of renal cancer. A fund was set up to help Thompson with medical bills
last week, as the drummer had no medical insurance. NME, November
14, 2003
Health Care for Recording Artists? In 2003, AFTRA approved an agreement with BMG,
EMI Music, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner
Music Group. The agreement
would make available health care insurance to all union-affiliated performing
artists under exclusive contract to a recording label, for the duration
of their contracts.
By Barry Willis Stereophile, October 6, 2003
Disclaimer: Future of Music Coalition provides basic
health insurance information to answer your basic health insurance option
questions. Insurance is regulated on a federal basis and by each state,
and each insurance carrier rules and policy terms may differ from state
to state and between individuals. Therefore, you acknowledge and agree
that any insurance-related information provided by or through the Website
is general information only, and may not apply to your particular situation.
FMC does not endorse any insurance carrier, product, or policy and is
not responsible or liable for any information provided on the website,
by a HINT representative or other resource. FMC shall not be responsible
for any injury, loss, or damage which occurs as a result of any statements,
advice or information provided in or through the HINT program, or for
the reliability or accuracy of same. In addition, any user of the HINT
program who chooses to make any personally identifiable information or
other information publicly available to a HINT representative or otherwise
does so at his or her own risk. Such disclosures
are expressly excluded from the terms of our Privacy
Policy.For more information see our terms
of service
Fractured
Atlas is a nonprofit service organization for artists and
creators. One of the benefits they offer their members is access
to group health insurance. Visit the website and select your
state from the menu to see the state-specific insurance options.
Membership in the organization is $75 annual for an individual, but
there are also affordable group rates starting at $150.
AHIRC:
The Artists’ Health Insurance Resource Center is an
online database created by the Actors’ Fund with a grant from
the National Endowment for the Arts. Data is organized by state
and includes information about resources in each state for artists,
and lists of insurers of all kinds. Access to this data is
free.
Health
Alliance for Austin Musicians If you are an uninsured,
professional musician in the Austin, TX area, you may be eligible
for low-cost primary health care services, basic dental care and
mental health counseling provided by HAAM.
SIMS Foundation is
a non-profit organization that provides access to low-cost mental
health services for Austin, TX musicians and their immediate families.
Texas Music Office is a state-funded business promotion and information clearinghouse for the musicians of Texas. The insurance page provides a detailed list of health insurance options for residents of Texas.
A
Consumer Guide for Getting and Keeping Health Insurance Created
by the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, this website
provides legal information about your rights as a health insurance
consumer for each state. Updated regularly.
eHealthinsurance.com A
for-profit broker that consolidates information about plans and premiums
on their website.
