The AHIRC is a service of the Actors' Fund, but it's for all artists. Click on your state, and you'll get a listing of all artist-focused health insurance resources in your area. Includes providers as well as great background and general advice.
Artist Help Network
Another good listing of artist membership groups and other organizations offerning plans for self-employed creatives.
National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE)
This membership and advocacy organization for small business and the self-employed offers group health and other benefits to members.
Buying Your Own Policy
This Consumer Reports article explains what to look out for when shopping for your own health insurance.
Taking Care of Yourself
Okay, maybe it's not as dangerous as police work or coal mining. But an art career can carry unique health risks. From hazardous substances to repetitive motion syndromes, you need to manage such risks. This list of links, compiled by the Texas State Arts Commission, will help.
Getting Health Insurance
Getting reasonably priced health insurance can be a vexing problem to anyone who's self-employed, artists included. But fortunately, several organizations offer resources tailored for artists.
Some of the more useful online resources we've come across are listed in the box to the right. The most comprehensive resource--and probably the best place to start--is the Artist's Health Insurance Resource Center. If you go only one place online, go there.
Be A JoinerEven if you qualify for an affordable individual plan, being part of a group plan almost always means lower cost, better benefits, or both. So even if you don't consider yourself a "joiner," this is one case where joining an organization can provide tremendous benefits.
Some logical choices:-
Artists guilds, unions and other associations. The AHIRC and Artist Help Network links provide a nice listing of such organizations. Some, like the Writer's Guild, are specialized and maintain particular membership requirements. But others, including regional organizations like the Chicago Artists Coalition, are open to all artists in all disciplines.
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Non-arts-related membership organizations often also offer group plans. If you went to college, check with your alumni association. There are small business associations, like the National Association for the Self-Employed (see right). Think through everything from your hobbies to your faith--there's usually an associated organization that could offer health insurance and other financial services.
Besides maladies specific to artistic disciplines--repetitive motion, for example--many artists need to be aware of risks from exposoure to hazardous materials. The Texas State Arts Commission has a good resource on this (see right). Also, check:
Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology
The name's kind of a mouthful, but this link takes you straight to the section with the latest information on the risks specific to the arts.