Special Reports
Group Health Insurance Plans for Performing Artists*
Joining a professional organization often enables you to buy health insurance at a better rate than if you were purchasing it on your own.
Each of these organizations has membership requirements and some charge a fee or dues. For instance, to be a member of ASCAP, you must be a composer, songwriter, or publisher and pay a $35 application fee.
Fees and providers vary by state. We have provided examples of the cost at both ends of the spectrum. For example, if you are a member of the American Federation of Musicians and live in New York, the provider is usually Empire Blue Cross and the cost of an individual policy can vary greatly depending on circumstances—between $182 and $1,367. If you are a member of AFM and live in Ames, Iowa, the provider is usually Assurant and the cost is between $77 and $296.
Note, too, that the world of health insurance is complex and constantly changing. The information provided is accurate as of April 15, 2012.
Sample Location: New York City
Provider: Empire Blue Cross
Individual Cost: $182-$1,367
Family Cost: $415-$4,238
Insurer: Insurance managed by Marsh Affinity Group: Major medical provider varies by
state
Eligibility Rules: Membership in AFM www.afm.org
Contact: (212) 869-1330
Sample Location: Ames, Iowa
Provider: Assurant
Individual Cost: $77-$296
Family Cost: $238-$560
TEIGIT (The Entertainment Industry Group Insurance Trust2)
Sample Location: New York City
Provider: Oxford
Individual Cost: $513-$726
Family Cost: $1,630-$3,502
Sample Location: Chicago Metro
Provider: CIGNA
Individual Cost: $2,572-$2,679
Family Cost: $8,076-$8,413
Insurer: Provider varies by state or coverage areas in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Florida, Indiana, and Chicago metro area.
TEIGIT is a broker for Golden Rule Health Insurance, a non-guaranteed individual health insurance plan, in Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, and Arizona.
Eligibility Rules: Residence in covered area and membership in affiliated associations (below)
Contact: (518) 348-1270
Contact: (212) 532-0800
Contact: (212) 265-3687
Contact: (212) 366-5260
Contact: (212) 242-2022
Contact: (202) 331-7577
Contact: (206) 720-6270
Sample Location: New York City
Provider: Empire Blue Cross
Individual Cost: $225-$603
Family Cost: $630-$1,687
Sample Location: Ames, Iowa
Provider: Golden Rule
Individual Cost: $73-$165
Family Cost: $158-$291
Insurer: Major medical provider varies by state
Eligibility Rules: Membership in Freelancers Union
Contact: (800) 707-8802
21anization
Sample Location: New York City:
Provider: Various providers
Individual Cost: $182–$1,367
Family Cost: $415-$2,060
Sample Location: Ames, Iowa
Provider: Various providers
Individual Cost: $75-$224
Family Cost: $151-$456
Insurer: Range of providers is available
Eligibility Rules: Membership in ASCAP
Contact: (212) 621-6000
Sample Location: New York City:
Provider: Various providers
Individual Cost: $182-$1,864
Family Cost: $415-$5,295
Insurer: Range of providers is available in limited areas
Eligibility Rules: Membership in BMI
Contact: (212) 220-3000
Sample Location: New York City
Provider: Various providers
Individual Cost: $182-$1,367
Family Cost: $415-$4,238
Sample Location: Ames, Iowa
Provider: Various providers
Individual Cost: $65-$375
Family Cost: $151-$987
Insurer: Range of providers is available
Eligibility Rules: Membership in Fractured Atlas
Contact: (888) 692-7878
Adam Natalle, x203
Sample Location: New York City
Provider: Various providers
Individual Cost: $264-$1,075
Family Cost: $793-$3,225
Sample Location: Ames, Iowa
Provider: Various providers
Individual Cost: $77-$366
Family Cost: $162-$774
Insurer: Range of providers is available depending upon region
Eligibility Rules: Members can purchase individual coverage
Contact: (212) 661-8528
Insurer: Members can access health insurance through Fractured Atlas
Eligibility Rules: Membership in Dance/USA
Contact: (202) 833-1717
Insurer: Forrest T. Jones
Contact: (800) 821-7303
Eligibility Rules: Members can purchase insurance, but availability varies by region
Contact: (513) 421-1420
Disclaimer: Health insurance is complex and constantly changing. The information included in the table was chosen as representative samples and is in no way meant to be a complete collection of required information.
Notes
* Ready access to health insurance is increasingly dependent upon membership in an organization that offers group coverage. Companies may still provide individual or sole proprietor, policies, but they are expensive and provide no guarantee that an applicant will not be refused coverage. eHealth, Inc., the parent company of eHealthInsurance Services Inc. is the leading online source of health insurance for individuals, families and small businesses. Licensed to market and sell health insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, eHealthInsurance has developed partnerships with more than 180 health insurance companies, offering more than 10,000 health insurance products online.
2 TEIGIT is a membership organization that provides its affiliates with access to guaranteed health insurance in a limited number of states and metropolitan areas. The organization also serves as a broker for nonguaranteed individual policies in selected other states and metropolitan areas.
3 Fractured Atlas is a membership organization that offers its affiliates access to a nationwide network of health insurance providers.
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