Entertainment COBRA subsidy bill signed by Governor Pataki

The Entertainment Industry Health Insurance Coalition, coordinated by The Actors' Fund of America, announces that Governor George E. Pataki has signed into law legislation creating the New York State Insurance Continuation Assistance Demonstration Project. This program will help income-eligible entertainment industry workers and certain dislocated factory workers in the State to keep their current health insurance coverage through COBRA premium assistance.

"By signing Senate Bill S7054B, Governor Pataki has once again demonstrated his innovation and leadership in expanding health insurance coverage in the State through programs such as Family Health Plus, Child Health Plus, HealthyNY, and now Insurance Continuation Assistance. We applaud his efforts to keep New York's working people and their families insured," said Joseph Benincasa, Executive Director of The Actors' Fund of America.

A coalition of entertainment industry unions, guilds, social service agencies, producers and theatre owners, initiated by the four largest performers unions (Equity, SAG, AFTRA, and AF of M Local 802) and coordinated by The Actors' Fund of America, has worked tirelessly for passage of the bill. The sustained four-year grassroots campaign involved tens of thousands of letters, postcards, e-mails and phone calls from entertainment industry workers, petitions signed by the casts and crews of every Broadway and off-Broadway show, and the active participation of entertainment industry workers including union heads, theatre owners and well-known performers such as Jerry Stiller and Bebe Neuwirth. Through this unprecedented effort, the coalition was able to make a compelling case for health insurance continuation assistance for an industry that generates billions of dollars for the state economy, yet sees more than 30% of its working members going without health insurance.

"The coalition met regularly to explore solutions to the problem of obtaining affordable, quality health insurance for entertainment professionals in New York State," explains Mr. Benincasa. "Coalition members worked closely with New York State legislatures to pass this bill to provide COBRA subsidies to entertainment professionals, recognizing the importance of the entertainment industry to New York State's economy."

The bill was sponsored in the Assembly by Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester) and in the Senate by Kemp Hannon (R-Nassau). It received crucial support from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno who brought the bill to a successful vote in 2003 and 2004. Richard Gottfried's (D-Manhattan) and Peter Grannis' (D-Manhattan) early backing of the bill was also a key component in its eventual success. The sponsors have worked closely with the New York State Insurance Department, which was an early supporter of the bill, to create a demonstration project that will be efficient and inexpensive to administer.

"This COBRA subsidy bill is an important health insurance subsidy for the thousands of individuals who work in the creative arts in New York," said Actors' Equity Executive Director Alan Eisenberg. "Equity, with our sister entertainment unions have been supportive of the more than 20 members of the Entertainment Industry Health Insurance Coalition. We deeply appreciate the enormous efforts made by The Actors' Fund and bill sponsors Assemblyman Richard Brodsky and Senator Kemp Hannon in achieving this success. We particularly want to thank Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno for their invaluable support for this bill, and to Governor Pataki for signing this into law."

The law sets aside $3.75 million in funds toward payment of 50% of COBRA premiums for eligible individuals and their families for a period of up to 12 months. Eligible individuals include entertainment industry professionals (such as those working in theatre, dance, music and music recording, film, television, radio, and circus) and displaced workers from plant closings whose previous year net earnings are at or below 208% of the federal poverty level ($19,365 for an individual, $32,594 for a three-person household). These funds will come from the $200 million HealthyNY program that currently offers affordable health insurance to uninsured employees of small businesses and self-employed workers.

"The signing of this bill is a significant achievement, since twice as many workers in the entertainment industry are without health insurance compared to other Americans," states David Lennon, President of American Federation of Musicians, Local 802 in Manhattan. Cynthia Vance, Chair of the Screen Actors' Guild Legislative Committee and Third New York Vice President, added, "SAG's health plan is facing tough challenges and the resulting changes have had a dire impact on many of us. This legislation comes just in time. SAG is proud to have been part of a solution to the problem." Ed Fry, Eastern Chair of AFTRA's Legislative and Public Affairs Committee and Vice President of New York Local commented, "This bill provides badly-needed help for members who have found it increasingly difficult to qualify for health insurance. AFTRA has been an enthusiastic partner from the beginning. The unity and cooperation of the unions and The Actors' Fund have won the day. Now, so will our members."

The Entertainment Industry Health Insurance Coalition was formed in November 1999 as an advocacy group for health insurance legislation that would assist uninsured industry members. Its activities are coordinated by The Actors' Fund of America, the industry's oldest human services organization, and is sponsored by its founding members Actors' Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and American Federation of Musicians Local 802, as well as by the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers, American Guild of Musical Artists, American Guild of Variety Artists , IATSE Local One, NABET-CWA Local 16, International Cinematographers Guild IATSE Local 600, Motion Picture Studio Mechanics IATSE Local 52, Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Writers Guild of America East, I.B.E.W.-AFL-CIO Local 1212, United Scenic Artists Local 829 and Directors Guild of America. The Coalition also includes non-union organizations such as Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, The League of American Theatres and Producers, The Recording Academy, Musicians Foundation, Inc., New York Production Alliance, Career Transition for Dancers, Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, and the Episcopal Actors Guild.

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