The latest issue of SPIN Magazine is a year-end roundup. Among the "best of" lists and what-have-you is an excellent article about musicians and health insurance, which they're calling the "Story of the Year."

The piece covers a lot of ground, with tons of real-life examples of artists who have suffered a health calamity but didn't have insurance. Although it's a sad and all too familiar story, we're pleased that it also mentions FMC's Health Insurance Navigation Tool (HINT), which provides free, confidential information to musicians seeking information about their health insurance options. HINT doesn't sell insurance. It does, however, provide high-quality info to artists on a case-by-case, state by state basis, which goes a long way towards demystifying a complex topic. If we can't magically fix the health insurance problems in the US, we can at least provide a way for musicians to get a grasp of their situations so that they can hopefully obtain coverage.

The SPIN article has some choice quotes from FMC's HINT program officer, Alex Maiolo — an insurance expert who is also a musician. You can read the first page of the article here, but you gotta grab a copy at the newsstand for the full story. We highly recommend it, and not just because of the HINT angle — it's just really good reporting. (And the rest of the issue is pretty sweet, too.)

While you're at it, check out this Op-Ed from a recent edition of the Chicago Tribune. Penned by FMC's Alex Maiolo and Nan Warshaw of Bloodshot Records, it goes further in explaining how the current health insurance situation locks up ideas, entrepreneurship and creativity — which doesn't sound terribly American, when you think about it.

And if you're a musician, be sure to check out our HINT page, which is chock full of useful info about health insurance. You can also schedule a phone appointment with one of our experts. Remember, they're musicians, too!