Health & Insurance Resources

HEALTH AND INSURANCE RESOURCES

Artist Access Program
The Artist Access Program offers services designed specifically to meet the needs of artists. The program provides financial counseling by specially trained staff familiar with artists’ employment cycles to determine eligibility for various insurance options – including government programs, or a sliding-scale fee-for-service arrangement. In addition, the program allows artists to exchange performances or other types of artistic activity for health care credits that can be used to pay for doctor’s visits or prescriptions. Ask a Financial Counselor at Woodhull about how you can qualify for the program.
Contact: Artists who are interested in joinging the HHC Artist Access program at Wooshull, should call 877-244-5600. 
For more information visit the Public Financial Assistance page.

The Entertainment Community Fund
The Artists Health Insurance Resource Center updates its workshops and seminars with comprehensive information on the latest insurance options, provides enrollment assistance for Affordable Care Act plans, and offers online resources, education and literacy tools.
The Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts in New York City offers primary and specialty care, expedited referrals within the Mount Sinai Health System, extended hours and continuity of care for those who experience regular changes in health insurance coverage.
See website for other healthcare initiatives.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: New York City: 800.221.7303; Chicago: 312.372.0989; Los Angeles: 888.825.0911

Cancer Care Assistance 
Cancer Care provides limited grants to individuals for certain expenses related to treatment. 
Telephone: (800) 813-4673

Center for the Performing Artist at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell – NYC 
Comprehensive and integrated healthcare services for performing artists, such as care for vocal disorders, musculoskeletal conditions, pulmonary conditions, neurological conditions and movement disorders.
Telephone: (646) 962-2787

Editorial Freelance Association
Provides group health insurance at discounted rates to members. 
New York, NY 
Telephone: (212) 929-5400
Email: [email protected]  

Free Dental Search  
Online directory of free and affordable dental service providers.

Free Clinics 
Online directory of free and affordable medical service providers.

Get Covered New York
GetCoveredNYC helps New Yorkers enroll in health insurance with dedicated specialists who can assist you in your language. Under the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare), there are many low- or no-cost health insurance options for New Yorkers. Complete the form to receive free health insurance enrollment assistance from a GetCoveredNYC Specialist. You can also call 311 or text CoveredNYC (SeguroNYC en Español) to 877877 to be connected to a GetCoveredNYC Specialist and receive free enrollment assistance.

Harkness Center for Dance Injuries – NYC  
The Harkness Center for Dance Injuries at the NYU Langone Medical Center is dedicated to providing the dance community with injury care and preventative resources. They offer many subsidized and free services including orthopedic and sports medicine clinics, physical therapy and athletic training services, and injury prevention lectures and workshops.
Telephone: (212) 598-6054
Email: [email protected]

HealthCare for Artists – Massachusetts  
Assists Massachusetts artists in all disciplines in finding health care providers, health care resources and information, and health care advocacy organizations. Individuals may call their hotline for assistance in obtaining health insurance. 
Cambridge, MA
Telephone: Health Care For All’s Help Line (800) 272-4232
Email: [email protected]

HealthCare.gov 
This site is the main hub for information on health insurance and assistance programs offered by the United States government. Users can find eligibility and application information for the insurance marketplace, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Telephone: 800-318-2596 
Medicaid  is a federally funded program that provides medical and prescription coverage for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and resources.
Medicare  is a federally funded program that provides medical and prescription coverage for people age 65 and older and people with disabilities. Telephone: 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227).

Musicares 
MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares’ services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community.
Telephone: West Coast: (800) 687-4227; Central: (877) 626-2748; Northeast: (877) 303-6962 

New York City Free Clinic 
The NYCFC provides free health care services to uninsured adults age 18 or older. Services include specialty referrals, counseling, patient education, social services, and screening and registration for public health insurance. All new patients must be seen by a social worker to look at their eligibility. Free appointments are scheduled for Saturday mornings, with services available for a sliding scale fee on other days.
Telephone: (212) 206-5200
Email: [email protected] – this email is for general questions about NYCFC. Do not email medical information or questions. 

NYC Health + Hospitals 
Integrated healthcare system of hospitals, neighborhood health centers, long-term care, nursing homes and home care – the public safetynet healthcare system of New York City. They offer a variety of medical services, facilities, health insurance, and financial assistance. 
New York, NY

Physician Volunteers for the Arts – NYC & L.A. 
Dr. Barry Kohn administers annual flu shots to the NYC theater community, as well as offering some free services and referrals to the entertainment industry in New York City and Los Angeles. 
Telephone:(323) 207-6822

NYC Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene
All available information related to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene can be found on the NYC DOHMH.

Springboard Artists – Minnesota  
Springboard connects artists to healthcare and health insurance. Their programs are designed to bring artists and their families into existing health care systems, including community clinics. They’ve also created toolkits and resources to connect your community to care.
Artists’ Access to Health Care (AAH)
Offers low-cost medical care to help uninsured and under-insured artists living in the St. Paul, Minnestoa metropolitan area. 
St. Paul, MN 
Email: [email protected]

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

The Entertainment Community Fund Entertainment Assistance Program
The initiative functions as an entryway and guide through The Fund’s many programs when you’re facing personal or work-related problems. It is also a conduit for emergency financial assistance in times of pressing need or in response to catastrophic events. Services include: one-on-one counseling and referrals to helpful resources; support for issues around sexual harassment; assistance in locating legal and health services; and more.
New York, NY
Telephone: 212.221.7300, ext. 119
Email: [email protected]
Chicago
Telephone: 312.372.0989
Email: [email protected]
Los Angeles 
Telephone: 323.933.9244, ext. 455
Email: [email protected]

Behind the Scenes Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative
Many people have become increasingly concerned about the rising number of suicides and the prevalence of alcohol/substance misuse within the entertainment industry. By its very nature, this industry can impact your physical and emotional health due to long hours, pressure to push your body, and high workplace stress. In response, Behind the Scenes and other individuals and organizations have come together to create this initiative.

Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from their secure online platform. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.

Dance/NYC Sexual Harassment Resources
Dance/NYC has identified a list of sexual harassment resources in New York, which it will continue to update in the link above.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
We can all help prevent suicide. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.  
Call or text: 988

A Guide for Addressing the Loneliness Epidemic

In May 2023, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a special report on the public health crisis of loneliness in America. T.R.U.E Addiction and Behavioral Health has put together this incredible guide with dozens of mental health and substance use resources that can help.

Live Another Day 

Live Another Day was founded with the purpose of providing equal access to life-saving resources. They offer dozens of resources for finding help for mental health and substance use

NAMI

The National Alliance for Mental Illness HelpLine is available M-F 10 am – 10 pm, ET. Connect by phone 800-950-6264 or text “Helpline” to 62640, or chat.

NYC 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

NYC 988 helps New Yorkers in Crisis and is your connection to free, confidential mental health support. Speak to a counselor via phone, text, or chat and get access to mental health and substance use services, in more than 200 languages, 24/7/365. At any hour of any day, in almost any language, from phone, tablet or computer, NYC 988 is your connection to get the help you need with suicide prevention, warm transfers, followup care, and find additional services.

Public Theater Sexual Misconduct Resources
Resources for those interested in knowing more about ways to combat sexual misconduct and assault.

SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 
SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
Telephone: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Send Me a Friend
Supporting musicians and creative professionals who face unique challenges while in early recovery and on the road to a new way of life. They provide a national network of “sober friends” that are on call to come to a show and offer a helping hand and source of support for struggling music industry professionals.

Trans Lifeline
Trans Lifeline’s Hotline is a peer support service run by trans people, for trans and questioning callers. Operators are located all over the U.S. and Canada, and are all trans-identified. If you are in crisis or just need someone to talk to, even if it’s just about whether or not you’re trans, please call.
Hotline USA: 877-565-8860
Hotline Canada: 877-330-6366

The Warm Line
The Peer-Run Warm Line–which began operation in 2014–is a non-emergency resource for anyone in California seeking mental and emotional support. They provide assistance via phone and web chat on a nondiscriminatory basis to anyone in need. Some concerns callers share are challenges with interpersonal relationships, anxiety, pain, depression, finances, alcohol/drug use, etc. CALL 855-845-7415 TO SPEAK TO A COUNSELOR.

Zencare Artists’ Mental Health
A directory of vetted therapists who specialize in artists’ mental health.