The Actors Fund, the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation, and Sweet Home New Orleans offer free seminar on health care reform for
local visual and performing artists and entertainment professionals
New Orleans is next stop on the "Every Artist Insured Tour"
NEW YORK, NY - The Actors Fund's Artists Health Insurance Resource Center (AHIRC) will offer a free health care seminar to visual and performing artists and entertainment professionals at the Ash�Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard in New Orleans on November 2, 2011, from 6 pm to 8 pm. The seminar, co-sponsored by Sweet Home New Orleans and the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation, will address how our nation's artists can benefit from recent health care reform. The event will mark the next stop on AHIRC's "Every Artist Insured Tour," encompassing dozens of cities across the country. To register, call the Ash� Cultural Arts Center at 504.569.9070, or visit ahirc.org/everyartistinsuredtour for more information.
The seminar will show attendees how to evaluate their current coverage, and whether there's a better plan or program available. Seminar topics will include understanding health care reform; applying for government programs; finding affordable health insurance and health care; getting insured despite a pre-existing condition; and lowering the cost of medications. The seminar will be followed by a Q&A and individual consultations. All information is comprehensive and unbiased, with no commercial or political sponsors.
Established in 1998, AHIRC's mission is to help all artists in the United States get quality affordable health insurance for themselves and their families. Many of the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which passed on March 23, 2010, are directed at the individual and small group market, where the majority of visual and performing artists and entertainment professionals who are ineligible for union insurance find themselves.
"The median income for actors, dancers and musicians is below $24,000 per year and only a small percentage have full time work," said Jim Brown, National Director of Health Services for The Actors Fund. "Our team from AHIRC understands health care for artists, and we're proud to partner with Ash� Cultural Arts Center to provide this seminar for the local New Orleans arts community."
"Every Artist Insured: Understanding Health Care Reform", a guide to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, otherwise known as the health care reform, will be available at the seminar.
This free guide is also available at ahirc.org.
Other Louisiana cities upcoming on the tour include:
Baton Rouge, LA
Tipitina's Music Co-Op
2600 Government St
November 3, 2011, 2 pm - 4 pm
Lafayette, LA
101 Jefferson St. Suite 100
November 4, 2011, 2 - 4 pm
To request a seminar in your area or for more information, contact Jim Brown, The Actors Fund's National Director of Health Services, at 917.281.5966, or email jbrown@actorsfund.org.
ASH� CULTURAL ARTS CENTER is an initiative of EFFORTS OF GRACE, INC. Located in Central City New Orleans, Ash� Cultural Arts Center has established a successful practice of cultural art presentation and production, community development, artist support, and the creation of partnerships and collaborations that amplify the impact and reach of our outreach and support efforts. Visit www.ashecac.org
THE LOUISIANA CULTURAL ECONOMY FOUNDATION The primary mission of the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation is to be a catalyst for the development and enhancement of the distinct cultural industries of Louisiana by promoting the economic health and quality of life of our cultural economy workforce. Visit www.culturaleconomy.org.
SWEET HOME NEW ORLEANS The mission of Sweet Home New Orleans is to support the individuals and organizations that will perpetuate New Orleans' unique musical and cultural traditions. It provides Social Services, Economic Development, and Community Revitalization programming to local musicians, Mardi Gras Indians, and Social Aid & Pleasure Club members. Visit www.sweethomeneworleans.org.
THE ARTISTS HEALTH INSURANCE RESOURCE CENTER (AHIRC), a program of The Actors Fund, was created in 1998 with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts to help people in entertainment and the arts find affordable health care and health care coverage and reduce the number of uninsured artists. AHIRC offers in-person counseling in New York and Los Angeles, national telephone support, an internet resource database (www.ahirc.org) with over a half-million visitors each year and more than 100 Getting and Keeping Health Insurance workshops held at arts, cultural and human services organizations throughout the country. Visit www.ahirc.org.
THE ACTORS FUND is a national human services organization that helps everyone - performers and those behind the scenes - who works in performing arts and entertainment, serving more than 12,000 people annually. Programs include social services and emergency assistance, health care and insurance, housing, and employment and training services. Visit www.actorsfund.org.
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