An Artist’s Guide to Accessing Health Care

in the Philadelphia Area

Over the past two years, LINC Philadelphia has gathered information on the needs of artists regarding health care and the special characteristics of artists that make it especially hard for you to access health care and insurance. Many of you are part-time workers, self-employed or low–income without access to employer-based insurance plans and unable to afford individual insurance.

Clearly, the need for accessible and affordable health care is one that applies to many Americans, not just artists. While LINC Philadelphia has not been able to solve this daunting problem, we have collected resources in this guide that will help you make informed choices about health care. Download this guide here.

NOTE:  The information in this guide was developed in 2008 and should be used only as an outline.  However, the most current information about healthcare options is available at the Artist Health Insurance Resource Center.  Refer to the AHIRC site for the most current information.

LINC Insurance Survey Results

The LINC Health Insurance Survey revealed important information about the artists community who responded. While all Americans need better access to insurance, the artist community is particularly hard hit due to:

• many artists being low-income;
• many artists holding multiple part-time jobs that make them ineligible for employer-sponsored plans; and,
• many artists who are self-employed or work primarily as contractors.

On January 25, 2008, LINC Philadelphia shared this data with leaders in health care, insurance reform, arts service organizations and others concerned with the needs of those without access to insurance. Our goal is to identify existing resources that are currently available to artists (and others) with these characteristics, find potential partners for advocacy and information, and ally ourselves with others pursuing reform.

Based on this meeting, LINC Philadelphia is investigating how it can advocate for passage of legislation that would provide health insurance coverage for all Pennsylvanians through the Governor's "Rx For PA" initiative. More information will follow.

You can read the report and minutes from the Health Insurance Meeting by clicking on the Downloadable Files toolbar.

The Health Insurance Initiative is led by LINC Philadelphia partner Gallagher Benefits Services a benefits consulting firm (led by a practicing artist, Ivy Silver) helping us figure out what you need and whether we can make something work.