United Hospital Fund, with grant support from Venturous Theater Fund has released Risky Business: A Guide for Dramatists (and Other Theater Workers) on Finding Affordable Health Coverage and Care, a comprehensive, free online guidebook to help dramatists navigate the often-bewildering world of health insurance, find affordable coverage and care, and become their own best advocates. The guide, though focused on New York, includes thumbnail sketches of coverage resources in other states as well. The guide will help dramatists and other performing arts professionals without employer or union health plans navigate the complex world of health insurance. It will help them identify and select health insurance plans and provide information on how to access essential resources they may not know are available, including free, one-on-one counseling from the Entertainment Community Fund, emergency grants from the Dramatists Guild Foundation, and more. The guide offers easy-to-understand information on such topics as “Obamacare” plans, public programs like Medicaid and Medicare, and state and federal COBRA rules. The guide also offers tips on how to avoid scams and “junk insurance,” access to discounted medical care and prescriptions when you are uninsured, and find consumer assistance. As independent contractors, dramatists are particularly vulnerable when it comes to accessing health insurance. Many don’t have full-time jobs that offer health benefits, and union plans in place for other theater artists are not an option. Income from a variety of sources that varies widely from month to month makes looking for affordable coverage even more complicated. The guide was researched and written by Peter Newell and Amy Lin, special assistant for policy and program at United Hospital Fund. The Entertainment Community Fund and the Dramatists Guild of America provided valuable assistance. To access the guide, please visit https://uhfnyc.org/publications/publication/risky-business. Press contact: Brett Oberman/Keith Sherman & Associates (646/250-4444)...