Cool HINT Article

There's an article about musicians and health insurance in Seven Days, Burlington, Vermont's alternative newsweekly. Artists who lack coverage is a concern even in that sleepy little college town (which actually has a pretty big music scene). And sadly, the story is the same in both small and big burgs across the country.

The piece talks about folks in the Burlington music community who have suffered severe injuries and didn't have health insurance. It also features some choice quotes from Alex Maiolo — the musician/health insurance expert who manages FMC's Health Insurance Navigation Tool (HINT):

“I think we all agree that the current system is not a good system,” says Maiolo. “But it’s what we’ve got. And while we can talk about what might be a better way, in the interim the short-term solution is to demystify how it works.”

That's exactly why HINT was created: to help musicians understand the tricky jargon associated with health insurance, and provide a way to examine their options — for free. Here's how it works: after scheduling a phone appointment on the HINT website, you'll receive a call from Alex or Chris Stephenson to go over your situation. Remember, HINT doesn't sell insurance. What it does do is provide free, quality information about a really important subject.

If you're a Chicago or New York-based musician, you can meet Alex in-person at our "What's the Future for Musicians?" workshops this fall. In addition to getting information about health insurance, attendees will learn about a range of internet-based promotion and distribution options, the importance of open internet structures, local funding opportunities for artists and how copyright law and business models affect musician compensation. Breakout sessions will provide an opportunity to interact with the experts and network with other musicians, labels and fans.

The Chicago event takes place on Monday, September 22 at the Old Town School of Folk Music. The NYC forum will be held at the Public Theater on Monday, October 6. Admission for each event is $25, though a limited number of musician scholarships are also available for both events. Register early; space is limited!

What’s the Future for Musicians: Chicago Monday, September 22, 2008 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL

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What’s the Future for Musicians: New York: Monday October 6, 2008, 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM Anspacher Theater at the Public Theater, New York, NY

Event site
Register
Apply for a scholarship
Press credentialing
Help us spread the word