Wednesday, March 26, 2008

This is how they stop UNIVERSAL Health Care

Looks good on the outside. But, these types of groups, (Chambers, etc.), have been the ones who offered up a great deal of push back to universal health care. The organizations sell insurance. They know that they'll die if all the members are insured.
Announcing a Health Care Plan for the Arts Community

The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council is proud to announce the arrival of a health care program for local individual artists and part-time and seasonal employees of local cultural organizations. This is not a traditional health insurance program, but a limited benefits medical plan that was designed based on input from the arts community about desired benefits and pricing. Eligible Arts Council members will have the opportunity to choose from three tiers of coverage. Starting at under $60 per month, the HM Care Advantage plan includes benefits for physician office visits, annual wellness tests and screenings, ambulance and emergency room coverage as well as discounts on pharmacy, vision, fitness and wellness services. Some plans also include an additional critical illness component. Coverage will begin on July 1, 2008.

First Information Meeting
Monday, March 31 at the New Hazlett Theater

The first informational meeting about the program will be held on Monday, March 31 at 6:15 pm during Last Days Café at the New Hazlett Theater. Last Days Café is a casual happy hour held the last day of each month from 5:30-8:30 pm that features time for networking, complimentary refreshments and a brief program. The New Hazlett Theater is located at 6 Allegheny Square East on Pittsburgh’s North Side. If you cannot attend, visit the Arts Council’s website www.pittsburghartscouncil.org after April 1 for dates of upcoming meetings and webinars and to download an informational brochure.

Questions? Interested? Contact us at 412.391.2060 x 234 or rfreytag@pittsburghartscouncil.org.

With the introduction of this plan, the Arts Council has taken an important first step towards making health coverage available to everyone in the local arts community who needs it. We look forward to taking more steps forward in the future!

Best Wishes,

Mitch Swain, CEO
Tiffany Wilhelm, Director of Development and Membership
Ryan Freytag, Development and Membership Coordinator

Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
707 Penn Avenue, 2nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3401
412.391.2060

2 comments:

Mitch said...

Mark and Co.
Lumping our organization in with others you see as having a position on universal health care would be an easy mistake to make.

Simply put, we have found that the artistic community needs affordable access to limited medical services. Our interest is in making the greater Pittsburgh area an excellent place for artists and arts administrators to live and work. This limited health plan is just one of many things that we offer to support that goal. We don't have a financial stake in health insurance, only in a "healthy" arts community in general.

Mark Rauterkus said...

You have NO stake in selling the health insurance?

Who does?

That's weird. And, a bit hard to believe.

Thanks for the objection. I've got some questions as to the validity of the claim. But, I'm totally in the dark.