Expanding Health Care Enrollment for New York Artists and Arts Groups

Many U.S. artists’ annual earnings fall in the gap between low and middle incomes, making them ineligible for public health programs and unable to afford coverage in the individual market.

This can prove to be detrimental, as artists are often exposed to above average health and safety risks (e.g., dancers experience knee injuries from poor flooring and painters work in enclosed spaces with dangerous fumes). Fractured Atlas, a major provider of health care for artists in New York State, attempted to increase enrollment in its health insurance offerings through expanded health insurance outreach to five organizational partners in locales throughout New York State. During the period of the award, Fractured Atlas offered health insurance to artists living in New York through HIP and Perfect Health. At the beginning of the grant period, approximately 1,500 artists were insured through Fractured Atlas.