"The label you give yourself cannot impact external forces that are not motivated by your own psychology or influenced by a third party's pre-existing consciousness of you. We are all presented with reasons to struggle which come from completely external forces; to pretend that one is not struggling is either arrogance or an admission of defeat. To admit that one is struggling is a sign and a source of strength." - Evan A. Baker

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Health Insurance for Actors

If you're like me, you live a freelance life; you work a couple of odd part-time jobs so that you can be available for auditions. If you're having a fantastic year, you book a few commercials and end up qualifying and getting Sag-Aftra's health insurance! If you don't.....you don't have health insurance.

But you need to have it by January 14th, 2014. What do you do?

You go here: http://www.coveredca.com/

Although insurance plans aren't technically being offered until October, you can already go to the link above and get an idea of how much money you'll be required to pay, and what those costs will get you. They base it off your age and adjusted gross income (and they show you how to find that).

AND NOT ONLY THAT, but if you have questions and/or are completely lost about what all that means, you can request information from them! I requested someone call me in the next few weeks so I can better understand how our insurance needs will be met by our always fluctuating income and the very likely possibility of a new family member.

For years, my insurance plan was Hope & Prayer, and as I was looking at the estimated costs and the breakdowns, I nearly cried. I can make sure that should my husband or I get sick, we can get the care we need immediately - AND I can get free preventative checkups! No more hoping and praying that we don't get sick, because believe you me, that shizz is scary.

Be healthy, be safe this year and always.

xoxo
at

5 comments:

  1. Garet070489October 9, 2013 at 9:15 PM

    Hi Lira,

    I randomly stumbled across your website out of curiosity. I have to say you are awesome! I'm not an actor (I'm curious about the business though) but this advice seems so good, even better it seems so real. I want to thank you for sharing your thoughts with the world. Best wishes and I have every confidence in your success in this industry. Oh and when and if I'm ready to start down this career path I'm sure i'll be coming to you for advice. Thanks again for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lira KellermanOctober 9, 2013 at 11:57 PM

      Garet, it means the world to me that you took the time to say thanks.
      Thank YOU! :)

      Delete
  2. Find out moreFebruary 20, 2014 at 1:53 AM

    I always wondered if cosmetic surgery can be covered under health insurance, because most of the actors and models undergo such treatments now-a-days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lira KellermanFebruary 20, 2014 at 10:07 AM

      Cosmetic surgery is an elective surgery, so no, insurance won't cover it unless you need it. eg, "I'm not getting a nose job; I'm fixing my deviated septum!"

      Delete
  3. BluggerFebruary 3, 2016 at 11:19 AM

    Lira, i love that name. Thank you for sharing this information and Congratulations for getting off the Hope & Prayer insurance policy.

    ReplyDelete

Play nice.

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