News flash!

[rolanni]

The Maine Arts Commission is dancing on the edge of being useful to Maine artists. From the bi-weekly newsletter:

4. *Maine** Arts Commission Plans Health Insurance Workshops*

The Maine Arts Commission is currently planning two workshops on health insurance options for artists; dates will be announced in the coming weeks. Special guests will include First District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree to speak about the federal Healthcare Reform Act and staff members from DirigoChoice which is now open again to artists who may wish to enroll for individual healthcare coverage. See below.

DirigoChoice is private health insurance coverage offered through Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Small businesses (fewer than 50 employees), sole proprietors, and individuals are all eligible to enroll. DirigoChoice is open to new enrollees. Qualifying enrollees receive subsidies to help pay for their coverage. For more information about DirigoChoice, including covered benefits and costs, click here: http://www.dirigohealth.maine.gov/Pages/dirigo_choice.html.


Mind you, Dirigo Health was. . .time-consuming, byzantine, and depended on a weird overpayment-and-debit-card-refund scheme that also required you to trust not only the Gummint, but Anthem BC/BS.

There's a new administrating body now, so possibly the process has become less insane.

Or not.

It would be really useful if the Maine Arts Commission could form an arts membership organization of some sort, so that the artists of Maine could become an insurance group and take advantage of whatever benefits still accrue to such things, but that's probably wishing too high.

Comments

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, we're two years away from Medicare. In other words, I'm not betting the house on DirigoChoice.

Health Insurance Workshops

[(Anonymous)]

IIRC, overcharging then posting a 'balancing' refund at some later date in the chargers format of choice was a variation of interest fraud since the overcharge amount could be/was held in interest bearing accounts that the charger received income from. You'll note that any refund received didn't carry an interest earned with it.

Something to watch for at the workshops. And since there is going to be a CongressCritter there, do remember to wear your hip-waders ... then again since this is an election year, you might think about bringing Scuba gear. ;)

[blitheringpooks.livejournal.com]

It does seem hopeful that they are making an effort for artists (and those who fall under that umbrella). I suppose an active group of artists might campaign for a better system, but then--look at all the time they'd spend away from writing/arting/musicing/etc.

So close!

[(Anonymous)]

Drat. So close to a common sense solution!

We looked into the local chamber of commerce forming a group for
the purposes of obtaining health care insurance - and found it
was illegal in the State of Maryland. You betcha more little
businesses would join the CoC if they could reverse this stupidity.
Annnndddd more people would be covered so they wouldn't wind up in
the ER with previously-ignored-conditions. But noooooo.

Sorry, I'll hop off the soapbox now,
Lauretta@ConstellationBooks

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Would be nice if there were options for artists.

More than anything else, it's the health insurance that keeps me toiling away at the day job.

Attend the Meetings and Share Your Views

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks for sharing this news and for praising us for being almost useful. We hope that you can all attend these meetings once they are announced and have your say there.
Your feedback will be much appreciated.

If you cannot attend, then take our Maine Arts Commission constituent survey; it is anonymous and you have a chance to air your views on the issue of health care and whole host of other things.
http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2yxtie6gbmesxpn/start
We really are listening to what you have to say. Please take the opportunity to share your views.

Re: Attend the Meetings and Share Your Views

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your comment. Since you're new: I do ask people who are not LJ members (and thus have community handles), and who post in this blog to sign their names. Common courtesy, and all like that.

I hope that the health care meetings are scheduled in places I can reach and not during day-job hours, because I do want to attend.

Also, yes, I did fill out the survey. I don't think I pulled any punches, though I'm not recalling any questions about health care.

I'm not, as you've noticed, one of the Commission's Big Fans. That could change; I hope it will change. I want to be a fan. It's very much to my advantage for Maine to have an arts commission that actually cares about, fights for, and understands its "constituents," rather than simply working to insure its own longevity.

I am a professional writer (http://www.sharonleewriter.com/) who, after a decade of making my living as freelancer had to "go back to work," in the vernacular of my co-workers, only so I could have access to affordable health insurance.

Being able to have affordable health insurance as a freelancer is a huge issue for me. It would mean that I could quit the day-job and make more art. I very much want to make more art.

And, just to assure you that I am not throwing stones at houses I haven't visited myself -- I was part of Dirigo when it was administered by Anthem and it was. . .I think Utterly Bizarre probably covers it. I do very much hope that Harvard-Pilgrim has done better.

Sharon Lee