Health Insurance
Working Today

The Freelancers Union
New York-based freelancers in various fields, including the arts, can purchase insurance at group rates through this organization. There’s no cost to join, but you must provide proof that you worked 20 hours per week for the last eight weeks, or earned at least $10,000 in the last six months. A forum feature on their website allows you to get recommendations from other freelancers for doctors specific to the plan you choose.

Fractured Atlas
This national arts service organization provides specialized health care plans (as of last December, Dance Theatre Workshop suggests this organization as air alternative to the health care services they provide, whose enrollment has closed). Their Quick Start Guide to Healthcare is a database of programs that provide discounted health insurance for artists and is organized by state. The user-friendly guide breaks down each program, providing the cost per month, a short summary, and further resources. Joining FA does mean paying a fee (about 20 cents per day), so factor the cost of membership into the health care plan you are considering.

America’s Health Insurance Resource Center
This Actors’ Fund service operates similarly to Fractured Atlas (see above). On their web site,  click on your home state. The relevant organizations that provide discounted health insurance for artists are summarized and linked directly.

The mission is to get every artist in the United States health insurance coverage. Created by The Actors Fund with a grant from The National Endowment for the Arts and sustained by grants from The Commonwealth Fund and Leveraging Investments in Creativity, the AHIRC website is a free, unbiased, information resources. Its only interest is to promote healthy artists with full access to health care. Information you will find includes: Where to go on the Internet to compare costs of private plans; Organizations that offer association plans to artists and self-employed persons; Government-subsidized programs in your area.

Harkness Center for Dance Injuries
The Harkness Center for Dance Injuries at the Hospital for Joint Diseases offers many subsidized and free services for the dance community including clinics staffed by orthopedists and dance physical therapists; state-of-the art research and rehabilitation technology and free injury prevention screenings and lectures.

The Dancers Resource
The Actors Fund
Launched in the summer of 2007, The Dancers’ Resource has been created in response to the unique situation dancers face due to the physically demanding nature of their work, coupled with the significant financial challenges of earning a living in dance.  Founded by Actors Fund Vice President Bebe Neuwirth, The Dancers’ Resource comes out of her personal experience from having hip replacement surgery after several years of physical therapy, arthroscopic surgery and excruciating pain and the emotional stress of not being able to dance and not wanting people to know about her condition. Recognizing that the situations faced by injured dancers are all-encompassing in terms of both life and career, the program was started to create a support system that addresses the needs of dancers.

General Liability Insurance
Special Event Liability Insurance