Show latest news, more from December 2004.
Bill signed for performing arts health insurance
New York State Governor, George Pataki has signed a bill allocating $3.75 million towards health insurance for unemployed entertainment industry professionials. The money will pay 50% of health insurance premiums for the professionals and their families for up to 12 months. Eligible individuals include New York State resident actors and other professionals working in theatre, dance, music, music recording, film, television, and radio. A coalition of entertainment industry unions – led by the four largest performers unions – and the Actors Fund of America lobbied intensively for the bill. Their case for health insurance continuation assistance has finally been successful, and not before time. The performing arts and entertainment industry makes billions of dollars for New York State, but 30% of its member go without health insurance. In part, this is due to the contractual/seasonal nature of much of the work. Actors and other workers without a regular salary are often unable to pay health insurance fees when they are between jobs. The bill will help absorb part of the cost of health insurance, making it more feasible for those people to continue holding health insurance whilst looking for work. The program is quite flexible too; open to entertainment industry professionals whose previous year net earnings are at or below 208% of the federal poverty level ($19,365 for an individual, $32,594 for a three-person household). This puts the program within the reach of a wide range of professionals who, with a regular salary, would most likely have health insurance. The funds themselves will come from the $200 million HealthyNY program that currently offers affordable health insurance to uninsured employees of small businesses and self-employed workers. For more information on the program, visit The New York Foundation for the Arts
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