Welcome to the HealthcareforArtists.org, an artist run website for Massahusetts Artists of all disciplnes and artists run organizations. This site acts as an outreach/advocacy tool and is indebted to the Artists Health Care Working Group for all of its support and help. This free site is for individual artists working in all disciplines and artist run organizations to aid them in navigating the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Law, its requirements and programs, and the existing available health care options. This site is a resource for finding health care providers, health care resources and information, and health care advocacy organizations. Important proposed health care legislation is posted on this site. There is a glossary and key terms section for reference.

This site hosts a guide for Health Care Organizations and Advocacy Groups enrolling artists working in all disciplines into the Health Care Reform's options and existing health care options. There is a section specifically for artists-run spaces and businesses (useful also for small businesses and small nonprofits).

We are using a broad and inclusive definition of artists working in all disciplines. It encompasses: visual artists, musicians, composers, writers, poets, playwrights, new media artists, film makers, crafts people, actors, singers, performance artists, graphic designers, lighting designers, dancers, choreographers, and the like. Individual artists are the foundation that makes our society and the creative economy thrive and grow. Without the individual artists there would be no art of any kind to present and experience. It is that simple.

We urge you to join the free list serve on this site. The Massachusetts Health Care Reform Law, its requirements and programs, is a work in progress. This list serve will update you on new key developments, action needed to be taken, important health care legislation, public hearings and meetings, and more. (Note this listserv is only for health care related information) We highly encourage you to also visit our "sister site": www.artistsunderthedome.org and to join its free listserv.

The information on this website should not be used as a replacement for talking to an enrollment specialist and/or a staff person at a designated state agency or a designated advocacy organization. It is only meant to act as preparatory information and is not meant to be legal and/or tax advise. If you have questions after reviewing the information provided on this site, it is best to call an enrollment specialist or a staff person at a designated state agency or advocacy organization. All information on this site may be reproduced for educational purposes with permission from Healthcare for Artists. No permission is needed for it to be downloaded/printed out for individual use.

• AN IMPORTANT WARNING - If you are a business/employer- DO NOT CALL The Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) HELPLINE FOR ASSISTANCE - We have documented proof that calling the DUA helpline for Fair Share Contribution (FSC) help in filling out the online forms or for general FSC questions, triggers an audit and information gathered on such calls to the helpline is used as evidence in a DUA FSC audit/investigation. Please contact us at healthcareforartist.org if you need assistance.

Please help to spread the word about this site to other Massachusetts artists!

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This is an artist run web site and is run by inkind donation of time and resources. Thank you to the following: Liz Nofziger (www.nofzilla.com) for her invaulable help with the web site design, Kathleen Bitetti for the web site design, content generation & upkeep (www.kathleenbitetti.com), Bill Fields of HealthPlan Solutions for his ongoing guidance on small business issues, and to Stu Sherman (www.StuSherman.com) for his legal & health care policy guidance in the launch of the site in 2007.

Special thanks to Sophia Solar Michalski for providing the seed funding to secure the domain name for this site and the funds for its promotional materials.

This site was last updated 9/19/10.