Health Insurance Reform on Hold

Thanks to all of you who made your voice heard as the PA legislation considered health insurance reform.  As of June 2008, the health insurance reform efforts were put on hold at the end of the legislative session. The Governor may address the issue again in the fall and we will continue to provide information to the artist community so you can advocate for new legislation.  Want to know more facts? Visit www.philaculture.org.

LINC is now looking at other ways in which we can support artists' search for accessible and affordable health care.  LINC Philadelphia is preparing a resource guide that will be available later in the fall that will provide information on current resources for individual health care and insurance  Watch this space for more information as we roll out the guide.

Providing Health Insurance for Artists

Access to affordable healthcare is a problem for all Americans but it hits artists especially hard. Artists are often self-employed, working part-time for multiple employers, working seasonal gigs and short on consistent income.

Artists need insurance that is accessible, affordable and portable (meaning it is attached to the person and not a particular job.) It is one of the most pressing issues for artists.

LINC Insurance Survey Results Now Available

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 Commonwealth Consulting Group, 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.