Cook County News Herald

New medical reimbursement program for regional artists




The Artist Fund (formerly the Artist Relief Fund) is pleased to announce a new, revised medical reimbursement program, Artists’ Access to Healthcare – North (AAH – North).

“Health care is a major concern for the artists we serve. Many are self-employed and have little or no insurance,” says Margaret Holmes, president of the Artist Fund. “We know that this program is not capable of addressing an individual’s major health concerns but it is the hope of The Artist Fund that this reimbursement program will give artists the option to seek preventative care.”

The program was developed to help uninsured artists and their family members living in the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota and Douglas and Bayfield Counties of northwestern Wisconsin obtain access to health care.

Beginning April 1, 2011, this program will reimburse up to $100 toward the cost of an individual’s paid visit to the doctor, dentist, or licensed health care practitioner anywhere in The Artist Fund’s service area. A reimbursement payment will be made directly to the artist.

At no point in the process will an individual artist be asked about their health status, the reason for their visit, or proof of income. An artist may be reimbursed for only one medical visit in a 12-month period due to the limited funding available.

The Artist Fund hopes that the AAH – North medical reimbursement program will encourage artists to seek out necessary medical care and also raise awareness about all the hardworking yet uninsured artists.

Applications for this program can be downloaded from The Artist Fund’s website at www.artistrelieffund.com or can be requested by calling the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council tollfree at 800-569-8134.



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