Question:
I'd like to break from the usual trite banter to ask a
serious question. What are you professional comedians doing for
insurance? Some of the headliners I've worked with are lucky enough
to have a wife who's plan carries them. Unfortunately my girlfriend
earns a pittance with no benefits so eloping with her would do me no
favor.
I wouldn't mind having a long-term provider, but my main concern right
now is fixing the tendinitis in my elbow and knee. From what it looks
like I will most likely have to get surgery on my knee. This hasn't
been diagnosed by a doctor yet, but it is what I believe. Should I
just get short-term catastrophic insurance to cover this? Should I
pay out of pocket? What are my options as a self-employed
entertainer? Also, what about dental plans?
What are you pro comics and entertainers doing?
Answer:
I don't know what the avg. road hack does for insurance, I can tell you this, a
lot of them are uninsured.
As for industry darlings like myself, The screen actors guild is probably one
of the best plans out there.
You can get a good deal through blue cross called an individual saver
roughly $100 a month I think.
Golden Rule was just purchased my United Healthcare, one of the top health
insurance providers in the country. They traditionally have only done group
policies with large corporations, but they bought Golden Rule so they can
now have a subsidiary that provides individual policies. After you fill out
the quote page, there will be several companies you can chose from,
including Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
I'm not sure if this is really considered insurance or just some variation of
an HMO without having an employer. However, we picked up Pacificare for dental
about a year ago. We didn't sign up for the medical but it is offered. Dental
is about $34.00 a month and they give you a set price scale for various
different needs no matter what the dentist office itself charges....along with
some free preventive stuff...cleanings, etc. I liked that idea because we know
going in how much something is going to cost, the discount itself is pretty
hefty, and you don't have to call around to compare prices. That $34.00 is the
total price for all three of us....myself, my wife, and daughter. I assume the
price for one person is much lower. Almost every dentist in my area excepts
Pacificare and I can even change my "dentist of choice" if I want to get
something done if I happen to be in a different city, or if my wife wants to
use someone else because the last dentist just seemed creepy.
Another alternative to Dental Insurance is Dental Fee Reduction Plans.
Fee reduction plans usually cut prices 30-40% from what you would have
to pay full price. But Unlike Dental Insurance Dental Fee Reduction
plans go into effect immediately so once you register online you can
go to the dentist the next day and get the price cuts n shit.
Most Dental Insurance plans make you wait 3- months on minor shit and
up to a year for major things like bridges or root canals. And if
you're like me and sitting up in a Baton Rouge Hotel at 4am trippin of
a wisdom tooth,you cant wait a fucking year to get a free wisdom tooth
pulling.
I got my plan at http://www.dentalplans.com
Dental insurance may be good for a family or something but personally
as a single man i find dental insurance to be a waste of money in the
long run. Once you have major dental work done which is maybe 2-3
times in your life the rest of the time is just 2 cleanings a year. A
dental cleaning full price is usually no more than $40-50. and I see
no point in paying someone $4-500 a year so that i can get some old
dude with bad breath to floss my teeth for me.
I guess it's just a matter of what works best for you.
as for Health Insurance. That blue Cross Plan is about $100 a month
depends on the state probably.
as for getting health Insurance through SAG or AFTRA. That is probably
cool but it was to my understanding that AFTRA registration is almost
$2000. if I'm not mistaken Someone who's registered can probably give
more insight. but correct me if I'm wrong part of staying registered
with SAG and AFTRA is to have a continuos flow of Paid television work
am I right?
