Council works to cover artists’ health

Jennifer Bechak has two masters’ degrees in the arts and teaches as an adjunct professor at a… Jennifer Bechak has two masters’ degrees in the arts and teaches as an adjunct professor at a local community college along with being a well-exhibited sculptor. She is also without any health care coverage.

From previously exhibiting in the Three Rivers Arts Festival to appearing in FE and Future Tenant galleries and showcasing internationally, Bechak, 34, has been successful as an artist. Unfortunately, this success hardly ever coincides with steady and secure access to health care.

Her problem is a similar one that affects many working artists both in Pittsburgh and throughout the country. The constant project-oriented workflow for so many artists who work independently – or, like Bechak, work part-time jobs – creates a huge hurdle for adequate coverage. Bechak claims it’s been about four or five years since she has seen a medical doctor.

“[If I need to] I usually check WebMD [when something comes up,]” she said.

The problem is one that troubles Ryan Freytag, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council’s development and membership coordinator. Through his efforts at the Arts Council he’s been able to take a major step for regional artists. Through HM Insurance Group, the council is now offering a unique health plan to its members.

“In college, I had a friend who was a musician and a painter who broke his arm and [since he was without any health coverage] his arm never properly healed,” said Freytag.

A sculptor and installation artist himself, Freytag wants to make health care available to artists at an affordable cost. The Arts Council’s HM Care Advantage is the first result of the desire of Freytag and other council members to make this a reality for regional artists.

After speaking with and surveying its members, the council worked with HM Life Insurance Company to produce a creative service that they hope will be both practical and affordable for artists.

Normally, individual health insurance can range from $300 to $400 per month for an individual.”It’s hard to say what this service is similar to,” said Bridget Sinneway, a health care benefit consultant. She points out that health care usually factors in age and race in deciding monthly costs. The Arts Council is offering a single monthly rate, regardless of these and other factors including one’s current health conditions. HM Care Advantage is most like low-cost indemnity plans some companies are able to give part-time workers, but, according to HM representatives, nothing like the Arts Council’s plan is available to individuals otherwise.

There is no deductible, and basic service is available to council members for a little less than $60 a month, and individual memberships to the Arts Council are $50 annually. What the coverage plan typically covers is a fixed, paid amount for a set number of medical services.

For example, HM Care Advantage pays $70 for a visit to a doctor’s office and allows for three visits a year. The balance (or remainder) is left to the artist. In addition, the plan includes a number of in-hospital stays, along with one surgery, emergency room service, ambulance ride and several other services throughout a year. It also offers discounts on prescription medicines and a discounted network of providers.

What the basic plan doesn’t include is critical care or serious-illness coverage. Nor does it currently cover mental or dental health or physical therapy.

“We had to talk with our members and find out what they needed most and what they were [able to afford],” said Freytag. “The plan right now is designed to cover artists who are, for the most part, healthy but wouldn’t have access to basic coverage otherwise.”

The Arts Council is also offering two higher-cost service options that offer a fixed level of financial assistance for critical care or serious illnesses, such as cancer. The plus plan is available to individuals for $119.65 a month and a premium plan for $188.81. While these plans are more expensive, they were included for those artists who have more serious health concerns.

The Arts Council’s service is also extended to small businesses and part-time employees who work in the arts and are unable to receive health insurance. There are also higher-costing plans for those who are married or have families.

Since anyone can become a member of the council, the insurance company has an important question: Who is a working artist?

There is a typical standard of an average of 15 hours per week throughout the year for part-time and seasonal employees to receive coverage. The council will be monitoring those individual artists seeking coverage and will require documentation that each artist is meeting that same average time commitment.

Bechak, who certainly commits that much to the arts as an educator and sculpture, was impressed with the council’s efforts but still found the cost pretty steep.

“I know for me and most artists I know, that’s too much,” she said.

Freytag is aware of these concerns, too, and affirms that this is only the Arts Council’s first step in helping artists receive health care.

“This plan isn’t for everyone