#CoverageMatters: Artists Day of Action

Music is my life. I’m a lead guitarist and a singer with my sister Kim in the Breeders and other bands.

But, in order to pursue my passion, I had to make sacrifices, and health insurance was one of them. Prior to the Affordable Care Act, as many artists know, health insurance on the individual market was hard to come by at an affordable price.

For me, having a pre-existing thyroid condition, coupled with an uncertain paycheck from touring, recording and song writing meant I couldn’t afford health insurance.

And that was probably true for other artists as well.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, I’ve been able to afford health insurance as a single, self-employed female for the first time in my life – and it feels really good. It’s something that I can budget for. I feel empowered to be a participant in my health care.

But this security is now in jeopardy for millions of Americans, like myself, and especially musicians, artists and others who rely on the Affordable Care Act. So as part of the #CoverageMatters campaign, we are designating today, January 12, as Artists Day of Action.

So if you are a musician, writer, actor, painter, poet, sculptor, or artist of any stripe, share your story about why you support the law, what it’s done for you and any personal Affordable Care Act story you or your families and friends may have on social media using #CoverageMatters.

Artists and musicians have a powerful voice, and we need to use it.

Artists from the Mountain Goats, Lambchop, Spoon, Superchuck and others; along with the indie rock label Merge Records and the Future of Music Coalition are already signed up to participate. Look for their stories on social media.

It can be as simple as tweeting that you are able to be a full-time musician because of the ACA.

Or you can highlight other aspects of the law and share stories about people in your life who have benefited, whether it’s a family member who has a pre-existing condition and can no longer be discriminated against by health insurers; a seriously ill friend who no longer has to worry about lifetime dollar caps; friends who has gotten coverage because Medicaid was expanded in their state; or someone who was able to stay on their parents’ health plan until age 26. These are all part of the Affordable Care Act.

As for me, I was so excited when I heard about the law and the Health Insurance Marketplace. I got great help from the Marketplace call center to enroll in coverage. I paid $110 a month after tax credits last year, and this year, I’m paying less – $65. My premium fluctuates, depending on my income each year. My deductible is $1,000.

I feel super proud that I have health insurance. I pay my premiums every month. I don’t take my coverage for granted, not for a minute.

The Affordable Care Act is also important to my family because it has helped the wonderful health aides who work part time helping to take care of my mother, who has Alzheimer’s. They’re all single women—some of them are going to school, some are partly retired, some need a second job – and they were all uninsured until the Affordable Care Act.

The law provides a cushion, a security blanket, so if something terrible happens while I’m on tour or I get hit by a car or I get some terrible disease, I won’t go bankrupt, and my parents won’t go bankrupt trying to help me.  It’s a worry that’s been taken away.

If you’re uninsured, Marketplace coverage is still available. Check out your options at HealthCare.gov and enroll in coverage that meets your needs and budget. Open Enrollment for the Marketplace goes until January 31, 2017, but you need to enroll by January 15 for coverage that begins February 1.

Financial assistance may be available to help you get covered. You can get 24/7 help comparing plans and enrolling in coverage like I did by calling 1-800-318-2596 or find in-person assistance in your community at https://localhelp.healthcare.gov.

Thanks to the ACA, I don’t have to worry about getting a desk job to get health coverage. I can pursue my music and art.