Are you and your team set up with ObamaCare yet?
Sure, it’s something we’ve been talking about ever since the launch of the initially problematic healthcare.gov website. However, if you are a musician or represent musicians, DO NOT stop reading. It could end up costing you.
For musicians, it’s a matter of getting in touch with the right people, asking the right questions, and getting the right advice to avoid the unnecessary expense. Enter: HeadCount.org
The organization has been running steady for 10 years, and started out as a platform to help register voters for the 2004 presidential election. Since then, they have successfully organized many socially conscious initiatives such as #SoundOff, a Twitter platform that allows anyone to tweet directly at Congress and create an open dialogue with lawmakers, nationally-broadcasted PSAs, and much more. Simply put, their mission is to promote participation and democracy through music.
“It’s all about keeping people informed, and harnessing the power of musicians,” co-chair Andy Bernstein states, who realizes the reach and the influence that musicians possess. It is this power that has helped the organization register over 300,000, and achieve much more.
With every cog of the industry represented in its board of directors, from artists, to managers, to promoters, to booking agents, to venues, to radio stations, multinational corporations and beyond, the resources at hand have helped propel the initiatives of this organization for well over a decade, and Health Care is next on the docket.
HOTLINE INFORMATION
PHONE: (919) 264-0418
EMAIL: HealthCare@HeadCount.org
HOURS OF OPERATION: 24 hours!
HeadCount.org has set up a hotline where anyone can call to get more information about the necessary steps needed to ensure coverage without penalty. Did you know that if you don’t have coverage before March 31st, you could get fined? It could be substantial depending on your particular situation, so it’s best to try to avoid any surprises.
Why is it best to contact HeadCount as opposed to just doing it yourself? You may not know what regulations are in place that might affect your situation as an artist, manager, promoter, etc. Simply getting on the phone with HeadCount will give you the necessary information and direct you to other organizations called “Navigators” who are trained by the government to assist you in making sure that your health care requirements are met. This is a resource that the government has implemented for your sake, and it’s HeadCount’s mission to inform and put people in touch with these resources.
Of course, for anyone who still suffers from healthcare.gov-phobia, sorting out your health care needs over the phone will help you avoid this step.
If you’re heading to SXSW: you can visit the workshop below to get one-on-one guidance regarding how to insure your band, whether or not you’ll have interstate coverage, and how to navigate this new Health Insurance Marketplace.
Artists + the Affordable Care Act: Get Answers, Get Covered
Thursday 3/13, 3:30p-6p
Austin Convention Center Room 8BC
Open to badge holders and artist wristband holders
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