What’s missing from your dance career?

Probably health insurance. Even if you have secured a permanent position in a company, you might not get full coverage. And if you’re like most dancers who do have insurance, you pay for it entirely out-of-pocket.

The reality is that many dancers forgo health insurance entirely. If this sounds like you, you should reconsider your view on health insurance, and learn what you need to know to get covered.

The first step in searching for health insurance is realizing that you need it. Living without coverage, regardless of your profession, carries high risk. When you’re a dancer, the risk is even greater, because you push your body to extremes.

Many uninsured believe that they can just pay for medical bills as they arise, but even a moderate injury that results in a trip to the emergency room can quickly cost over $10,000. If that injury takes you away from dance, you’ll be out of work. Without insurance, a minor injury can quickly become a life-altering disaster. Yes: it’s difficult and frustrating to pay for health insurance. But you can’t afford to be without it.

Learning About Insurance

If you’re currently uninsured, you need to learn as much as possible about health insurance options before you buy a policy. Research the industry terms: health savings account, major medical, prescription drug plan, co-payment, deductible, annual out-of-pocket maximum, coinsurance. You’ll find these terms (and many others) scattered throughout every page of your coverage agreement. To begin your studying, read up on the basics of health insurance at this link. Also, read this article on the details of health insurance, from an old issue of Dance Spirit.

Comparing Policies

When you begin to compare individual policies, you’ll have to weigh many options. Pay careful attention to your choices when it comes to selecting doctors and hospitals. If you have a primary care physician who you would like to continue visiting, make sure your plan includes that doctor. If you’re not sure, call your doctor’s office and ask if he accepts the policy you’re researching. And while you’re on the phone, try to get a recommendation on what plan you should buy.

Before you compare policies, get to know your own medical history, and think about your future plans. Do you need good prescription drug coverage? Will you want maternity coverage? What preexisting conditions do you have that you’ll need to disclose on your application?

Buying a Policy

Once you’ve applied for coverage, if you’re approved, find out whether your policy covers preexisting conditions that you may have disclosed. And, find out whether your potential policy is “guaranteed renewable.”

As with every step in this process, paying for your policy requires some decision-making. If you opt to pay in installments, you will probably pay an extra fee with each installment. If you were to pay your premium all at once, you’d save on those fees.

Health Insurance Options For Students and Young Dancers

If you’re just starting out on your dance career and you’re enrolled full-time in school, you have several options for obtaining health insurance. First, if you’re covered under a parent’s health insurance, you can probably remain under their coverage, either until you’re 25 years old, or until you are no longer a full-time student. You can see big savings by staying on your parent’s policy for as long as possible.

If you’re a full-time student who isn’t eligible for coverage under a parent’s health insurance plan, you might be able to purchase coverage through your school. Many universities offer group rates to full-time students, and you could pay quite a bit less than you would for your own policy.

Health Insurance Help for Professional Dancers

For professional dancers who are over the age of 25 and are not full-time students, certain organizations exist to help you purchase health insurance. Though coverage and rates vary by state, these organizations can offer group rates to many dancers.

The Freelancers Union:

Through The Freelancers Union, New York-based dancers and freelancers in various fields can buy health and dental insurance, as well as long-term disability and term-life insurance, all at group rates.

To qualify, you must meet certain eligibility requirements. You must prove that you have worked 20 hours per week during each of the last eight weeks, or that you have earned at least $10,000 for work done in the last six months. There’s no cost to join The Freelancers Union.

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Fractured Atlas:

Fractured Atlas, a non-profit organization providing services and support to artists and arts organizations, offers group rates on health insurance to artists in 29 states and the District of Columbia.

Access to health insurance through Fractured Atlas requires you to join the organization and pay annual membership dues.

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America’s Health Insurance Resource Center (AHIRC):

AHIRC also offers health insurance to artists outside of New York. The AHIRC database was created in 1998 by the Actors’ Fund of America, with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. It originally served as a health insurance resource for artists and people in the entertainment industry, and today it includes resources for the self-employed, low-income workers, the under-insured, and many other groups of people. When you access this website, select your state to view the insurance resources available in your area.

You can find additional information about health insurance and healthcare resources available to dancers through The Actors’ Fund.

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National Dance Education Organization (NDEO):

If you’re a dance educator, the NDEO offers information on major medical, mini-medical, disability, dental and vision insurance programs through Associations Marketing Group, Inc. (AMGI). To qualify for group rates, you must be a NDEO member.

Until You’re Insured

If you’re still shopping for coverage, maintain your health by taking advantage of these organizations. They offer health care resources for dancers who are uninsured or under-insured.

The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic:

The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic provides free health care to uninsured and under-insured documented entertainment industry professionals between the ages of 18 to 64.

Located in New York City at The Aurora, the Hirschfeld Clinic offers urgent care, primary and specialty care, and low-cost referrals to a wide range of specialty clinics and practitioners.

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ARTDOCS:

ARTDOCS provides healthcare services to full-time artists in the New Orleans area who are uninsured or under-insured and whose income falls below U.S. poverty guidelines.

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ArtistTrust:

ArtistTrust offers resources for artists seeking health care and health insurance in Washington State.

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British Association for Performing Arts Medicine:

The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine offers free medical assessments for performance-related injuries, as well as recommendations on what medical professionals can provide the best treatment.

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Dance UK Practitioners Register:

The Dance UK Practitioners Register lists medical professionals in the UK who have experience working with dancers.

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Voice of Dance Directory:

The Voice of Dance Directory keeps an updated list of health care resources for dancers.