In this blog I journal as a painting artist, a self-identified women-artists-centered researcher and curator. This latter identification is the result of historic community and West Coast regional volunteering and working with various art exhibitions and project crews on an assortment of art projects. It also represents my return to the university in 2003, to earn my bachelor's degree. As it turned out, to be in Liberal Studies based on my four years research principally focused on, French women artists' and their careers leading to, and occurring in the modern era of painting.
From: Marie Louise Elizabeth Vigée Le Brun
to Rosa Bonheur
to Berthe Morisot
to Eva Gonzales
and to Paula Modersohn-Becker,
(the only other-than-French female painter).
The second reason for this post, is that I received an announcement concerning progress of a little known artists' advocacy organization in New York City.
Fractured Atlas provides resources for artists across the country!). Their announcement is affordable health insurance for artists! Without further ado, take a look at this, (& check out the resource links under "
Artists Career Development Resources" on the blog, for more on
SmARTist Telesummit; where all of this resource linking started):
FRACTURED ATLAS OFFERS AFFORDABLE AETNA ADVANTAGE PLANS FOR ARTISTS
FRACTURED ATLAS MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN
29 STATES AND WASHINGTON, DC ARE ELIGIBLE TO ENROLL
IN AETNA’S VARIETY OF AFFORDABLE HEALTH PLANS
NEW YORK, NY – March 3, 2008 – Fractured Atlas, a
nonprofit organization that serves a national community of artists and arts organizations, announced today that Aetna Advantage Plans are now available to its members in 29 states and Washington, DC.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor and research conducted by Fractured Atlas, there are roughly 300,000 uninsured artists in the United States. Aetna Advantage Plans provide three PPO plans available to more than 50,000 members of the Fractured Atlas Open Arts Network.
Fractured Atlas knows of no other national organization offering this type of comprehensive health coverage with criteria for membership based on self-identifying as an artist. Aetna Advantage Plans are now available to Fractured Atlas members who qualify for coverage.
"We know individuals who purchase health insurance on their own have a variety of life circumstances that create a wide range of needs and preferences, and the members of Fractured Atlas are no exception," said Frank McCauley, head of Aetna's Consumer Business Segment. "The plans and services we are offering to Fractured Atlas should address their unique needs and provide their members and their families with high-quality, affordable health insurance coverage."
Fractured Atlas' founder, Adam Forest Huttler, has been researching quality, affordable coverage that could be made available on a national or near-national basis for nearly seven years.
Fractured Atlas has been the leading provider of affordable health insurance to artists in NY State since 2001, but finding appropriate options outside of NY has been nearly impossible. "Several times a year for the past seven years we've contacted all the major insurance companies and tried to negotiate something," said founder, Adam Forest Huttler. "Aetna has always been our first choice carrier because of their stellar reputation, especially for customer service and dependability. Already, we've had as easy and pleasant an experience with them as we've had with any other insurer we've worked with."
"Artists are poorly served by our employment-based health insurance system," said James Brown, Director of Health Services for The Actors Fund. "High levels of self-employment, project-based and episodic work patterns, and relatively low wages result in a disproportionately large number of uninsured and underinsured artists."
Fractured Atlas is providing affordable, comprehensive coverage with slight variations from state to state. Previously, the only available coverage through Fractured Atlas was a limited plan that provided discounts on medical bills and partial reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses.
Fractured Atlas offers three of Aetna's Individual Advantage Plans. Two are HSA- (tax-advantaged health savings account) compatible. These two plans have average deductibles of $3,000 and $5,000, respectively. They also feature access to preventive care on a co pay basis before the deductible has been met, with no waiting periods. The third option has a $2,500 deductible and is not HSA-compatible, but features preventive care, primary care office visits and specialist visits subject to co pay before the deductible has been met. The lifetime maximum per insured is $5 million for all plans (unless state variations apply). Fractured Atlas is also offering Aetna's Dental PPO plan as a rider to the health plan. Information on Aetna Advantage Plans along with enrollment materials is available at www.fracturedatlas.org/healthcare.
The plans are medically underwritten and rates will vary. The plans are now available in the following states:
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, KS, LA, MD, MI, MS, MO, NC, NE, NV, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WY and Washington, DC.
About Fractured Atlas
Fractured Atlas is a nonprofit organization that serves a national community of artists and arts organizations. Our programs and services facilitate the creation of art by offering vital support to the artists who produce it. We help artists and arts organizations function more effectively as businesses by providing access to funding, health care, education and more, all in a context that honors their individuality and independent spirit. By nurturing today's talented but underrepresented voices, we hope to foster a dynamic and diverse cultural landscape of tomorrow. For information on membership, visit www.fracturedatlas.org
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.7 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, government-sponsored plans and expatriates.
www.aetna.com
