:Charity: Operation Servo

One of the major issues in the United States is health care.  Obviously, health care isn’t something people should be forced to go without and luckily when something major happens most people are able to get the care they need.  However, paying for that health care is a totally different story.  Some of us are lucky enough to have insurance through an employer, some are still able to stay on a parent’s policy due to student status, but for the majority of professional musicians, these are not options.  Professional musicians who can find a “day job” that will offer them health insurance as well as financial benefits and the flexibility to pursue their musical career are few and far between.  Considering the amount of time it can take to become established, being acknowledged as a student and meeting the age requirements generally make being declared eligible via a family member’s policy all but impossible.  So for US based musicians, that leaves them with, basically, two options.  Joining the American Federation of Musicians and signing on to the group health plan they offer or purchasing health insurance independently.  Both of these options are extremely cost prohibitive for independent musicians.  (more…)