Go to the AHIRC Site.

Program Description

Our Health Insurance Resource Center (HIRC) has been connecting artists, craftspeople and entertainment industry workers around the country to health insurance and affordable health care since 1998.

Getting health insurance or finding quality medical care is a constant concern for anyone who is uninsured or who isn’t covered by an employer, union or government health plan. The Center identifies alternative routes to coverage and local resources for care for performers, visual artists, stagehands, filmmakers, musicians, artisans, and other self-employed and episodic workers.

With offices in New York and Los Angeles and a staff that is experienced  in health insurance and health care counseling, HIRC takes a multi-faceted approach to the problem of health care access.  Its services include:

• One-to-one counseling in person, by phone and through e-mail.

• The Access to Health Insurance/Resources for Care Web site (www.ahirc.org) that contains more than 6,000 links to national, state and local information and assistance.

• Regular workshops and seminars on topics such as “Getting and Keeping Health Insurance,” “Health Care Options for People Over 65,” and “Dealing with Medical Debt.”

• Community outreach through participation in health fairs, arts conferences and other local events.

• Advocating for legislative changes that will make health insurance more affordable – for example, the successful fight for a COBRA subsidy in New York State for entertainment industry workers.   To apply for the subsidy, please visit the NY State Insurance Department website.
  

Eligibility

HIRC’s services are available to all entertainment and arts-related professionals. 

City Guides

The Health Insurance Resource Center has written brief guides on getting affordable health care and health insurance in cities around the country. These guides outline public and private health insurance options in a practical Q & A format. Included are links to pertinent websites and phone numbers of selected clinics and pharmacies. Please click on a city below to download the guide.

How to Get Affordable Health Care in New York City

How to Get Affordable Health Care in Los Angeles

How to Access Health Care in Washington State

How to Get Affordable Health Care in Kansas City

How to Get Affordable Health Care in San Francisco and Oakland

How to Get Affordable Health Care in Cleveland

In progress: Chicago, Boston, Las Vegas, New Orleans, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Contact

For more information, go to www.ahirc.org or call The Actors Fund at: