What's at Stake
Self-employed artists are no different than other Californians when it comes to finding and affording health insurance. Health insurance premiums can be incredibly high for individual purchasers, coverage may be inadequate, and individuals can be denied access to insurance for having any one of a number of pre-existing conditions. In the current wave of legislative debate of healthcare in the state of California, individual artists must unite and, with one voice, advocate for provisions that will improve the health and well being of all Californians.
Quality, Access, and Affordability - these are the three biggest factors in determining whether a healthcare proposal will be successful in meeting the needs of the people it aims to serve.
Quality health care is essential to any functioning society. All Californians deserve well-equipped and well-trained healthcare providers who possess the means to engage us in considerate, professional and timely interactions. Quality is not a factor determined by income, background, or -- the quality of the care provided is determined by mandates, provisions, and a thoughtful government of the healthcare system. A successful plan for California will ensure that all Californians receive a higher standard of medical care.
Access to quality healthcare is also a consideration; language barriers, cultural differences, and discrimination can all be barriers to receiving healthcare, just as much as geographical and logistical considerations. Even if all of these considerations were somehow met, it is the simple fact that not all Californians are granted access to purchasing health insurance. A successful plan must include many overtures toward improved accessibility, including universal guaranteed-issue insurance, so that self-employed and episodic workers, as well as older or less healthy individuals, will have the option to purchase quality, affordable health insurance.
Affordability is the weightiest issue in the national healthcare debate - healthcare costs are astronomical in the state of California. Artists face a specific set of financial challenges, and we must ensure that these challenges are noted and planned for in the final legislation. Provisions, such as a stop-loss limits on all policies (limiting all costs beyond premiums, including deductibles), would help to ensure that "affordable" health insurance is truly affordable.
There are various potential outcomes in California's healthcare debate that will affect artists in different ways. This is why we all must take advantage of the current opportunity presented by the statewide healthcare debate. The ArtistsUnitedForHealthcare.org website will provide you with comprehensive news, resources and information on the issues, but it's up to you to take action. There's a lot at stake.