GYST Health Insurance Workshop for Artists

Health Insurance 101: How to obtain private and group health insurance
Join LACE and workshop leader Michael Grodsky for a FREE workshop for individuals, families, and self-employed artists.

Choosing a suitable health insurance plan in the private or small-group market can be a daunting task. How does one compare plans from the hundreds available, when they are all so different? Can a self-employed person qualify for guaranteed issue group insurance? How might health insurance reform affect me? If you want answers to these questions and more, this friendly, interactive workshop is for you.

RSVP today: send an email to Monica Hicks, GYST, at monica@gyst-ink.com.
Please include your first & last name, email address, phone number, workshop title, location, date and time..

Topics include:
. Terminology and design features of health insurance plans.
. How to select a suitable plan.
. How to qualify for California guaranteed-issue group health plans.
. Group insurance for artists who teach college part-time.
. 5 common mistakes in choosing health insurance & how to avoid them.
. What health insurance reform may mean for you.

Individual and Family Coverage
You will gain an understanding of the six basic elements that should be considered when choosing a health plan: premium cost, plan benefits, contractual financial risk, your personal preferences, health history, and financial  circumstances.

Small Group Coverage
Currently, only in 5 states can individuals obtain private market coverage without regard to pre-existing conditions. In California we have guaranteed-issue insurance for the self-employed, which can cover owners, employees, family members and dependents. In some cases there can even be a ‘group of one.’ We’ll go over the business requirements for setting up these plans.

Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
You can set up tax-advantaged savings accounts if you have a compatible high deductible health plan. You will learn how they work and how to evaluate their suitability. We’ll also explore why Consumers Union says they can  be bad news.

To COBRA or not to COBRA, that is the question
After losing group coverage you may have options for continuing health insurance, including a federal subsidy. If there are attendees in this situation, we’ll discuss how federal COBRA and California’s Cal-COBRA work.

About GYST: Getting Your Sh*t Together is an artist run company that applies the creativity of an artist’s mind to the complex and daunting world of professional practices in contemporary art. Their mission is to support artists and arts organizations with an integrated mix of software, services and information in order to keep artists working.

About the facilitator: Michael Grodsky of Aquarius Financial is an independent consultant helping businesses and non-profit organizations implement employer-sponsored group health insurance and retirement plans, with an
emphasis on socially conscious investing. Michael also provides investment management and insurance services for individuals and families. He is a guest presenter at Cal Arts on the topic of financial planning, a member of the Social Investment Forum, and a board member of Side Street Projects, a non-profit artist-run organization. An Accredited Investment Fiduciary®, Michael holds a Master’s degree in Music Theory and Composition from California State University, Fullerton.