The Actors Fund has launched the Every Artist Insured campaign today to enhance their free and confidential health insurance counseling and enrollment support services.
Over the next six months, thousands of professionals in performing arts and entertainment, who remain without work because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will become ineligible for their union insurance. In order to maintain coverage without interruption, individuals and families will need education and assistance in selecting and securing affordable health insurance plans through the state health insurance exchanges starting immediately. To respond to this need, The Actors Fund will hire and train additional health insurance counselors, doubling the staff of their Artists Health Insurance Resource Center.
A lead gift of $1,000,000 in support from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) will launch The Actors Fund’s Every Artist Insured campaign. BC/EFA’s support will make it possible for The Actors Fund to raise the additional funds needed to create and fund the program over the next 12 months and support the community in staying insured through the crisis of this pandemic. To donate to support The Actors Fund’s Every Artist Insured campaign, visit actorsfund.org/EAIDonate.
“One of our biggest immediate concerns in the midst of the pandemic is access to health insurance,” said Actors Fund Chairman Brian Stokes Mitchell. “We have a short window of time to address this problem facing potentially thousands of people.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted disproportionate economic damage on Equity members and the performing arts and entertainment community at large, and the suffering of those in live performance disciplines is especially deep and prolonged,” said Actors’ Equity Executive Director and Actors Fund Board member Mary McColl. “The Actors Fund knows who our members are, what they need and they are proving yet again that they can respond quickly to those needs. Now more than ever, we are learning just how important they are to the health of everyone who works in entertainment.”
Financial assistance grants continue to be provided to help those in need with assistance for basic living expenses. To apply for assistance to The Actors Fund, visit www.actorsfund.org/GetHelp.