The Art Worker 030
Covered California open enrollment is available now:
Get free, confidential Help with Health Insurance
In our early and ongoing conversations with folks about what the needs are in our community of artists and art workers, the issue that arose most frequently was (and continues to be) healthcare. One aspect of this issue is access to health insurance. Acquiring and keeping health insurance can be overwhelming for many reasons: fluctuating and hybrid incomes, pre-existing conditions, and finding a plan for your whole family are just a few. Since the Trump administration has revoked the Affordable Care Act and the government remains shut down, access to health insurance is even more challenging.
In 2022, Contemporary Art League (CAL) partnered with the Entertainment Community Fund (ECF) to help artists in Los Angeles County access their Artists Health Insurance Resource Center. Through the center, artists can access free, confidential, one-on-one help navigating Covered California. This personal service assists art workers with expert advice on navigating Covered California to ensure you are selecting the best health insurance plan for your needs and budget. Counselors at the Entertainment Community Fund’s Entertainment Health Insurance Solutions, who work exclusively with the arts and entertainment industry, can also advise on the administrative process to ensure eligibility and benefits remain up to date over time.
The language of healthcare can be unclear and intimidating. Here at CAL, we use this service ourselves and have found it extremely helpful. Help with Health Insurance offers answers to any questions you may have, from the most basic to the most complex. If benefits specialists are unable to assist you, they will guide you to the most appropriate place to get the answers you need.
To register for this free, confidential service, click here and follow the instructions to register for the ECF portal, then connect with a health insurance Navigator.
About the partners
Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actor's Fund) is a national human services organization designed to meet the needs of the entertainment community. We’re grateful for their generosity in extending this critical service to our community of artists and art workers. It’s a true act of solidarity.
Covered California is a free service from the state of California that connects Californians with brand-name health insurance under the Patient Protection Act and Affordable Care Act. Financial subsidies are determined by your income level and are given at source, meaning you pay less if you qualify. Current legislation* recommends assistance for households with an annual income between 0 and 600% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL)**. You do not have to qualify for financial help to purchase a plan through Covered California.
Contemporary Art League is a trade cooperative building unity, solidarity, and equity among art workers in Los Angeles County.
*As of March 29, 2022
** Full up-to-date details on income qualifications and FPL can be found here.