Links and Resources (This page was updated on 12/5/07)
Before you contact any of these resources, we strongly suggest that you read and print out the following sections: the basics, and the Guide for Navigating the Health Care Reform Law.
Please make sure you tell them you are an artist as many organizations are keeping track of the number of artists who contact them.
• Health Care Options
• Important Phone Numbers
• State Organizations and Agencies
• Massachusetts Health Care Providers
• Massachusetts Health Advocacy Organizations and Coalitions
• Legal help and Medical Bills & Medical Debt Relief
• Important Artists Foundation On-line Health Care Resources & Info
• Key Artist Friendly Contact People and Their OrganizationsHealth Care Options Available: a listing and explanation of some of the health care programs available (includes Mass Health Commonwealth Care, COBRA, etc.) We urge you to print out this section.
Important Phone Numbers (IMPORTANT TIP: After you review and print out information from this site, we urge you to call the HCFA hotline first or visit your local community health center to see what you are eligible for. See our Key Contact People section on this page as well. If you think you might be eligible for the Insurance Partnership- contact the staff people at the IP denoted below)
• Health Care For All's Help Line: 1-800-272-4232 (this help line is for individuals only)
Helpline link-and email form
• Commonwealth Care (for individuals) www.macommonwealthcare.com
Commonwealth Care customer service center toll-free:1-877-MA-ENROLL (1-877-623-6765). A representative will be available to speak with you Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The Commonwealth Care Health Insurance Program (Commonwealth Care) is a program run by the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector. This program connects qualified Massachusetts residents with affordable health insurance if they do not have it. Commonwealth Care provides health insurance coverage that meets many health care needs, including doctor office visits, inpatient hospital care, pharmacy benefits, mental health and substance abuse services, and more. (REMEMBER there are eligibility requirements not listed on their website. See our information on Commonwealth Care in our health care options section.
• There will be a public information unit and a specific phone number for small businesses.
• The Insurance Partnership www.insurancepartnership.org
General number 1-800-399-8285
Contact for for artists, arts organizations and arts businesses: Betty Connor 1-800-399-8282 x 103 bconnor@insurancepartnership.orgState Organizations and Agencies
• The Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority (the Connector) http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=hichomepage&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Qhic.
The health care reform law created a new independent State agency, the Connector. This organization is charged with implementation of the law and for creating the policies, programs, and regulations to make the law a reality. The Connector is charged with setting the standards that define what "credible and affordable" health insurance coverage is for the State. Remember to only use the Connector's websites as a reference and do not enroll via their website for any program.• Department of Revenue (DOR)-The Massachusetts Department of Revenue administers the tax laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, oversees the Child Support Enforcement and The Division of Local Services that helps Massachusetts cities and towns achieve sound and efficient fiscal management through technical assistance, training and oversight. DOR will be enforcing the individual mandate of the Health Care Reform Law via tax payers' income taxes and also will be enforcing that businesses abide by the regulations of the Health Care Reform Law.
• The Insurance Partnership (IP) www.insurancepartnership.org 1-800-399-8285 (Note: their are specific contacts for artists and arts orgs at the IP see below for that information)
The Insurance Partnership is a Massachusetts state program developed by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and funded by state and federal governments. It helps qualified small businesses with uninsured employees, and the self-employed pay for health insurance. The goal of the Insurance Partnership is to reduce the number of uninsured residents in Massachusetts. As part of health care reform, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has expanded the eligibility for uninsured residents by raising the income ceiling for The Insurance Partnership. Now, more uninsured working residents than ever are eligible for the program. They have designation a contact person for artists and a contact person for arts organizations and arts related businesses.Massachusetts Health Care Providers and Health Care Advocates:
• The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers (Directory):
http://www.massleague.org/HealthCenters.htm• The Massachusetts Hospital Association (Directory):
http://www.mhalink.org/public/mahospitals/Also see Community Partner's list to find a health care advocate near you: http://www.communitywalk.com/map/list/104183?order=0
Massachusetts Health Care Advocacy Organizations and Coalitions:
• Health Care for All (HCFA) www.hcfama.org Main number: 1-617-350-7279
• Health Care For All's Help Line: 1-800-272-4232 (this help line is for individuals only)
Helpline link-and email form• The ACT II Coalition ACT II Coalition.
• ECU-Health Care, Inc www.ecuhealthcare.com 1-413-663-8711
(a health care access program in the North Berkshire area)• Community Partners www.compartners.org
Of note is their Program Info & Tools section: http://www.compartners.org/getinfo/tools• The Artists Foundation www.artistsfoundation.org
& the Artists Health Care Task Force http://www.artistsfoundation.org/art_pages/policy/policy_taskforce.htm• The Resource Page from Health Care for All
See both their public and private programs sectionsUniversal Health Care/Single Payer Resources:
• Single payer guide from the Massachusetts Nurse's Association
http://www.massnurses.org/single_payer/singlepay.htm• Mass-Care aka The Massachusetts Campaign for Single Payer Health Care
www.masscare.orgLegal Help and Medical Bills & Medical Debt Relief for Individuals (State-Wide Resources)
• Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts (VLA) www.vlma.org Toll Free: 1-800-864-0476. The VLA can provide legal advise and help to individuals, arts organizations, and arts related businesses.
• Health Law Advocates (HLA) www.hla-inc.org 1-617-338-5241
NOTE: HLA is working in collaboration with the VLA- so artists should call the VLA and non artists should contact HLA. HLA only serves individuals.• The Access Project www.accessproject.org Toll free 1-866-918-5232x231
The Access Project helps people with medical debt, credit card medical debt, and medical bills that they can not afford. Contact is Andrew Cohen 1-866-918-5232x231 acohen@accessproject.org• The Massachusetts Immigration & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) www.miracoalition.org
MIRA is an organization that can help you navigate visa options, citizenship issues, adjustment of status, replacement/renewal of legal permanent residency cards, etc.. The staff person who has agreed to be the artist contact is: Carly Burton 617-350-5480x208 and her email is: cburton@miracoalition.orgImportant Artists Foundation On-line Health Care Resources & Info:
• Artists Health Care Task Force http://www.artistsfoundation.org/art_pages/policy/policy_taskforce.htm
• AF's Health Care Resources Section
http://www.artistsfoundation.org/art_pages/resources/resources_healthcare.htm• South Boston Community Health Center Collaboration
http://www.artistsfoundation.org/art_pages/resources/resources_healthcare_sbchc.htm
•1994 Artist's Health Care Task Force Report http://www.artistsfoundation.org/art_pages/policy/policy_taskforce_report.htm• Testimony to the People's Forum and to members of Congress
http://www.artistsfoundation.org/art_pages/policy/policy_peoples_forum.htm• Creative Alliance
http://www.artistsfoundation.org/art_pages/policy/policy_creative.htm• Healthcare for Artists www.healthcareforartists.org (this web site)
List of key contact people for artists
Statewide contacts:
• Health Care For All's Help Line: 1-800-272-4232 (this help line is for individuals only)
Helpline link-and email form• Betty Connor at the Insurance Partnership is the IP's contact person for artists. 1-800-399-8285x103 and she is the contact for arts organizations and arts related businesses. Her email: bconnor@insurancepartnership.org
• Andrew Cohen at the Access Project 1-866-918-5232x231 (toll free) acohen@accessproject.org (Note the Access Project is a national organization and can help anyone living in the U.S.)
• Carly Burton at MIRA (Massachusetts Immigration & Refuge Advocacy Coalition) 617-350-5480x208 Her email is: cburton@miracoalition.org
Community/Geographic specific contacts:• Pat O'Keefe at South Boston Community Health Center (South Boston) 1-617-269-7500
• Chip Joffe-Halpern at ECU-Health Care Inc (North Berkshire area) 1-413-663-8711
cjoffehalpern@nbhealth.org