The Actors Fund—a nonprofit human services arts organization—received a grant from Covered California to educate the arts and entertainment community about new health insurance and financial assistance options that will become available through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014. (Covered California will be the primary individual health insurance marketplace in California next year.)
Despite its name, The Actors Fund serves all professionals (and not just actors) in the performing arts, in film, theater, television, music, opera and dance. Through the grant, individuals can attend information seminars about the ACA, access newsletters and information online, or call a helpline with specific questions.
A few highlights of the ACA:
- Open enrollment begins in October and continues through March of 2014.
- In January, the legal requirement to purchase insurance takes effect.
- Medi-Cal eligibility will be raised up to about $15,000 annual income for a single person.
- Singles with incomes between roughly $15-45,000 will receive help with their monthly premium payment.
- Medical bankruptcies will be effectively eliminated.
- Fines for those choosing not to purchase insurance will be applied through the IRS.
The ACA workshops are designed to walk attendees through all of the health care options and requirements to help determine eligibility for federal subsidies for premium assistance. The sessions are scheduled every first Monday of the month at 11 am and the first Wednesday of the month at 1:30 pm at The Actors Fund offices in Los Angeles. Email AHIRCHealthReform@gmail.com to secure a spot in an upcoming session.
The CalArts Office of Alumni Relations is partnering with The Actors Fund to hold an alumni workshop on the ACA on Oct. 1 at 6:30 pm at The Actors Fund offices. Local alumni will receive more information as it gets closer to the workshop date.
For questions about affordable health insurance or to check if you quality for financial assistance, please call the helpline at 855.491.3357.
The Actors Fund
5757 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 400
Los Angeles
The Kaiser Family Foundation created the video, posted above, to explain the upcoming changes to the American health care system.