In a September 2003 agreement brokered by AFTRA, the nation's five
major record labels and approximately 1,200 of their subsidiary labels
agreed for the first time to make health benefits available for all
artists on their rosters.
The agreement, which is part of the AFTRA Sound Recordings Code,
covers both royalty artists and session vocalists performing on sound
recordings. The centerpiece of the agreement was an innovative structure
that guarantees access to health insurance under the AFTRA Health
Plan to all AFTRA covered royalty artists under exclusive contract
to a label.
Here’s how it works. A label makes special contributions
to AFTRA’s fund on behalf of its artists under exclusive contract
based on royalties earned, even if unrecouped. So if you sold
$150,000 worth of records in a 6-month accounting period, but you
still have $375,000 in recording costs on their books, you won’t
be seeing a royalty check yourself. However, the label will
make a contribution to AFTRA based on the $15,000 you earned.
What does this do? The payment doesn’t mean you get
your health insurance for free; it merely makes you eligible for
AFTRA’s plan, meaning that the labels are meeting the $10,000
minimum earnings eligibility requirements on your behalf. Once you
are eligible, you can then sign up for AFTRA’s plan as an independent
or upgrade to their family plan, but you’ll still have to pay
the monthly premiums.
According to the AFTRA Code, as long as your label continues to
pay the annual lump sum contribution, and you continue to pay the
required participant premium, you will continue to be covered for
the period that you are a covered roster artist.
If your label representatives do not provide you with this information
when you sign your contract, or you’re unsure about whether
your label is a signatory to the AFTRA Code, talk to AFTRA’s
health insurance representatives at 323-937-3631 or webpage@aftrahr.com
Health
Alliance right prescription for uninsured musicians Nearly
500 musicians have signed up for care this year, provided by Austin's
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians Austin American Statesman, March 13, 2006
Musicians who
juggle jobs say latest cuts are too great Shreveport Symphony musicians struggle with paycuts and reductions in health
insurance coverage Shreveport Times, February 14, 2006
Coverage and Access
NPR's Ed Gordon interviews David Nathan, chair of the R&B Foundation,
about the lack of health insurance coverage among many musicians. According
to Nathan, many people assume that recording and performing artists "have
some huge amount of money that they generate, but that's just not the case.
NPR's News and Notes with Ed Gordon January
20, 2006
Soundman Versus Flesh-Eating Bacteria. His next challenge: a six-figure
medical bill Chicago musicians organize benefits to help soundman Gary Schepers Chicago Reader, January 6, 2006
Band Aid: Musicians Taking Care of their Own Chicago musicians and labels organize benefits to help soundman Gary Schepers Chicago Tribune, January 20, 2006
Most Temp, Part-Time Workers Lack Job-Linked Health Insurance
Commonwealth Fund study shows that only 21 percent of America's 34 million
part-time workers have health insurance from their job. Forbes, December 1, 2005
A New Pension for Struggling Artists Though it's about visual artists, an interesting article about artists pooling
their resources to create long-term security.
by Julie Salamon New
York Times, July 20, 2004
Band Aid for an Ailing Musician Almost 90 percent of the musicians surveyed
had played a benefit for another musician, though even the most successful
benefit seldom makes more than a symbolic dent in typically huge
health care debts.
By Richard Harrington Washington Post, April 9, 2004
Health Insurance Crisis Lingers for Biz The number of uninsured musicians remains high
By Chris Morris Billboard, March 13, 2004
Songs in the Key of Major Medical
By Peter Margasak Chicago Reader, November 28, 2003
Chic drummer Tony Thompson dies Thompson, who was also one of the world's most famous session musicians,
died of renal cancer. A fund was set up to help Thompson with medical bills
last week, as the drummer had no medical insurance. NME, November
14, 2003
Health Care for Recording Artists? In 2003, AFTRA approved an agreement with BMG,
EMI Music, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner
Music Group. The agreement
would make available health care insurance to all union-affiliated performing
artists under exclusive contract to a recording label, for the duration
of their contracts.
By Barry Willis Stereophile, October 6, 2003
Fractured
Atlas is a nonprofit service organization for artists and
creators. One of the benefits they offer their members is access
to group health insurance. Visit the website and select your
state from the menu to see the state-specific insurance options.
Membership in the organization is $75 annual for an individual, but
there are also affordable group rates starting at $150.
AHIRC:
The Artists’ Health Insurance Resource Center is an
online database created by the Actors’ Fund with a grant from
the National Endowment for the Arts. Data is organized by state
and includes information about resources in each state for artists,
and lists of insurers of all kinds. Access to this data is
free.
Health
Alliance for Austin Musicians If you are an uninsured,
professional musician in the Austin, TX area, you may be eligible
for low-cost primary health care services, basic dental care and
mental health counseling provided by HAAM.
SIMS Foundation is
a non-profit organization that provides access to low-cost mental
health services for Austin, TX musicians and their immediate families.
Texas Music Office is a state-funded business promotion and information clearinghouse for the musicians of Texas. The insurance page provides a detailed list of health insurance options for residents of Texas.
A
Consumer Guide for Getting and Keeping Health Insurance Created
by the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, this website
provides legal information about your rights as a health insurance
consumer for each state. Updated regularly.
eHealthinsurance.com A
for-profit broker that consolidates information about plans and premiums
on their website.
