Thread: Coverage for dancers

Aside from my time spent Bhuzing
I am also on several other forums (learning/networking/etc)

On one of them there is a lengthy and still growing thread on what happens to us dancers when we get hurt. How medical bills get paid and so on...
One of the posters there recommended that we band together as a group to negotiate for coverage at decent rates. I had chimed in w/ a "Yeah, lets do this!"

(That particular thread as has somewhat deteriorated into a rant about BDSS not helping out one of their dancers what got injured), but I keep directing it back in the direction of the group coverage topic.


I'm posting all this here to see how many of you would be interested in banding together to negotiate a decent group rate on some decent health coverage.
I currently pay an outragous premium for the health coverage I have under COBRA (had to give up a great plan when left my day job to open my studio), and do not know WHAT I'm gonna do when that plan ends in the fall! But there are many of you out there that are either in the same boat (too little or too expensive a coverage), and others still that have none at all.

Now large groups (like AARP) and many employers (like HSN here in Florida) are able to offer excellent plans to their participants because they have the power of numbers (the amount of members in their group) to ask for, and leverage these great rates.
No reason we cannot do the same.

Tired of hearing the rants & raves of the people posting on the thread at this other forum - (as of this morn) I have said that I would attempt to take the lead and organize everybody who is interested in forming such a group.
I guess will do the same here.
Sooo, who is interested?

I would be interested... as long as it would also cover domestic partners. ;)

Just a thought (because I believe in working smart and not too hard lol). Is there already a union or other organized group for performers or dancers that would meet this need that bellydancers could join?

I don't know this for a fact, but when I was looking into it I remember being told that it's illegal (or otherwise somehow not OK) to form a group JUST for the purposes of buying group insurance. So the group would need to be about more than that.

I would be interested IF the insurance suited my needs & was really affordable. A lot of the group policies I've been offered over the years haven't tempted me at all, so I can't give an unqualified 'yes.'

Over the last 14 years I haven't had health insurance I've been very fortunate *knocks wood* and haven't needed any medical care. I've saved over $33,000 (ummm..in theory, I don't actually *have* that money) based on my old group coverage premium.

At this point, I'm really interested in the option of catastrophic coverage plus a medical savings plan. If that option had existed Back In The Day, I'd be some $30,000 richer right now!!!

That's true, insurance is a rip-off. You pay all this money to the company and when you really need it they deny you the coverage.

I would be interested in a prescription plan if that was part of it. I already have realy good insurance through my hubby but no prescription and crappy dental, so those things would interest me.

Count me in on this idea too. I think it's wonderful, seriously. ..g.:

This won't help performers, but you can get group rates through the international dance teacher's association:
http://internationaldanceteachersassociation.com

I get my health insurance through my day job, but I get my teacher's insurance here.

I don't know anything personally but something like AFLAC is affordable and will at least reimburse you for payments.

Insurance Policies for Individuals & Employers | Aflac Insurance

Also, if you market yourself as a "small business" or "sole proprietor", there are plenty of insurance options out there.

Just mentioning that cuz I know some people have been on the fence about going "legit" with their business.

:-)

This dance is all that I do; it is my day job. I'd love to hear if there is a health insurance plan for bellydancers.

Ok, so the group thing prob wouldn't be available to someone who is just a student of BD - but to teachers/performers...

Would def want coverage to include married and/or domestic partners.
A prescription and dental plan would be nice as well. But those are usually offered as an option or rider in addition to a plan... (still worth inquiring about)

I know that several small biz owners have gotten together as a "networking group" and been able to negotiate for the group better rates than they were getting previously via just being a small biz


Keep coming w/ the responses and questions