It is the mission of the Artists' Health Insurance Resource Center (AHIRC) to provide the arts community with the information they need to make informed choices about health insurance options available in each state.

A major concern among Americans is their lack of access to affordable insurance and appropriate health care. This issue is especially relevant to artists and small arts organizations who experience difficulty in obtaining and keeping insurance. Because many artists do not receive health insurance through employment and do not qualify for needs-based insurance, they frequently fall between the cracks.

In response to this crisis, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) convened a national forum in 1994. Participants urged the establishment of an Artists' Health Insurance Resource Center (AHIRC) to assist the arts community nationwide in accessing information about available health care and insurance options. The Actors' Fund of America was delighted to be selected as the NEA's partner organization in implementing this new national initiative.

Through this initiative, it is The Actors' Fund's goal to reach out to artists and small employers in the arts community to make them more aware of their health insurance options and help them make informed health care decisions. An information database on the web and a new toll-free hotline have been put in place to provide assistance to the arts community.

Because state laws regarding health insurance vary, there can be no single "national" solution. Therefore, the information on the web site is conveyed on a state-by-state basis to accurately serve our various arts communities.

As AHIRC becomes more established over time, The Actors' Fund and the AHIRC Steering Committee will strive to expand its reach by bringing systems together, identifying solutions which address diverse needs, and advocating in the private and public sectors on behalf of the health insurance needs of artists and arts organizations.

The Artists' Health Insurance Resource Center Is Easy To Reach!

The Center is located at The Actors' Fund's national headquarters at 1501 Broadway, Suite 518, New York, NY 10036. You can also contact us by:

• This web site - check back with us often... we are an Interactive site!
• Telephone - our toll-free number is 1-800-798-8447
• Mail - send any questions or comments to AHIRC at The Fund's NYC Headquarters
• E-mail - AHIRC@actorsfund.org