Harry S. Truman First Enrollee in Historical Government Program July 30, 2015 – 50 years ago today, President Lyndon Johnson travelled to Independence, Missouri to visit a man he thought was alone and forgotten, a man who decades ago pushed for the government to intervene in a huge problem in the United States…indigent and elderly…
Musician, Activist and Spinal Doctor “Dr. Dan” Wants to Save Blues Musicians FEB 15, 2015 – With the deadline to enroll in Obamacare here, there are hundreds of events all over the country this weekend to get people who haven’t enrolled in Obamacare signed up for some kind of health insurance at the last minute. You know…
Most Musicians Have Always Gone Without Health Insurance JAN 28, 2015 – Up till now, most musicians have always just gone without health insurance, because individual health insurance plans were very expensive. Like many Americans, they would use the emergency rooms, which is of course more expensive and drives up healthcare costs. The Affordable Care…
DC INVESTS AFFORDABLE CARE ACT FUNDS IN COMMUNITIES May 22, 2014 – Many people are talking about how California, Kentucky and other states excelling with the rollout of the Affordable Care Act (or “Obamacare” as the conservatives lovingly refer to it) but the District of Columbia needs to be on that list too. DC has…
MAR 23, 20134 – We all know that life for a struggling musician is hard when it comes to paying bills (and getting paid for a gig!!), and for decades it has been virtually impossible for them to afford health insurance. The Affordable Care Act is addressing that issue but JTMP has found that it is being hampered not by "Obamacare", but by Republican state lawmakers who, because of a US Supreme Court ruling, do not have to take the money…so they don't. Kathleen Sebilius of the Health and Human Services said in a statement, "Texas taxpayers are losing roughly $18 million a day while the state turns down federal dollars to expand Medicaid." They could take the Federal funds, and then struggling musicians like Christian from The Hates (pictured right) in Texas would be able to apply for Medicaid and get health insurance, but no. It is more important for the Republican lawmakers to take a stance against "Obamacare" than to help their constituents. Unbelievable. Read about the struggle of Texas musician Christian Arnheiter aka "Christian of The Hates" not only fighting disease and our decrepit SICK care system but also battling their elected representatives that are supposed to help them on the HoustonPress.com website. (photo credit: The Hate)
MAR 11, 2014 – 9 different organizations have come together and launched the website "Artists and the Affordable Care Act" to get artists and musicians informed on what the Affordable Care Act law means, what their options are, and to help them enroll in a health insurance plan. Future of Music Coalition, HeadCount, Young Invincibles and many others have created a "task force" to "help creatives learn more and take action on health care". They point out how US-based artists are less likely to have health insurance then the general public, unsure about the Affordable Care Act, and they are seeking advice. On their website are great FAQs, and posts about the dozens of events around the country getting musicians informed and signed up for health insurance in seminars, workshops, meetups and other events. Get your health care insurance questions answered and find events on the Artists and the Affordable Care Act website.
MAR 11, 2014 – MusiCares, an arm of the Grammy organization that is dedicated to helping musicians with financial problems and other issues, has teamed up with GetCoveredAmerica.org and their full scale campaign traveling the country to try and get every musician in America covered by health insurance. They are holding workshops and events from California to Florida to get musicians informed on what their options are, why they need health insurance, and most importantly how the Affordable Care Act, or "Obamacare", makes the process easy and affordable.
MusiCares is in Florida with GetCoveredAmerica.org for a workshop on March 19, 2014 at Sweat Records to talk to musicians and get them educated and informed on what the new law is, what their options are, and even get them signed up. A local musician's federation, South Florida Musicians, even posted about it on their website. JTMP has found there are thousands of musician federations, musician unions, organizations, bands, musicians and individuals out there working at the grassroots level getting musicians signed up for health insurance, which has always been a problem for musicians to afford and obtain. Read more on Grammy.org's website and find events here, and watch musician Korby talk about how easy, affordable and necessary it was for him to get health insurance coverage under Obamacare in a YouTube video below.
If you are a musician and haven't signed up for health insurance yet, find an event near you at GetCoveredAmerica.org and also visit HealthCare.gov to get informed and sign up!
JAN 13, 2014 – A campaign called "Sing Forward" to raise awareness about the Affordable Care Act has been launched out of Wisconsin by Musicians For Health, urging fellow musicians to enroll in a health insurance program at the HealthCare.gov website. One of the main musical-activists leading the way is Anna Vogelzang, and she is letting other musicians know one can get health insurance through the exchanges for as little as $25-$50 a month; a catastrophic plan can be as little as $10 a month. There is even a song they wrote for the campaign titled "Sing Forward!", and they have the lyric sheet and a video to sing along with. They have a REMIX contest where you can submit your remix of the song, and the prizes are cash, tickets and other cool stuff. I might submit one myself! Check out the video of "Sing Forward" below, and check out the Sing Forward! website here where you can even punch in your zip code and find an affordable health plan. If you ever drop your amp on your foot and break your toe you will need it.
Sing Forward Music Video from Kyle Pfister on Vimeo.
JAN 1, 2014 – Happy New Year everyone! 2014 is going to be an exciting year for progressive issues. Medical marijuana is being enacted across the country in various states, and gay marriage is winning many key battles is being accepted more and more. JTMP urges our supporters to stay active in 2014 and push for strengthening unions, raising the minimum wage, and protect the environment among other progressive issues.
One important issue and key civil right is access to quality and affordable health care for all, and the Affordable Care Act (or "Obamacare" as it is now affectionately known) is a great step in that direction. Obamacare is "born" today and is officially launched. Starting today, millions of Americans cannot be kicked off their health care policy by a greedy insurance company. No longer can someone be denied access to health insurance because of a preexisting condition. As of today, heath insurance companies cannot gouge sick and elderly customers with higher payments. Many health care issues that were not covered before, such as hospitalizations and mental health, are now required to be covered by all policies.
We still have a way to go to assure that every single American has easy and affordable access to high quality health care, but this is a huge step in the right direction. JTMP urges our supporters to push their elected representatives to enact Medicare For All. H.R. 676 is a good place to start. Read more on the Key Features of the Affordable Care Act on the HHS.gov website here. JTMP reminds everyone to purchase health insurance through the exchanges, or you will face a tax penalty. Head on over to HealthCare.gov and sign up! (photo credit: Pete Souza/CC)
NOV 26, 2013 – I found this small clip of a skit by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood at the CMA Awards poking fun of the rollout of the Affordable Health Care Act, or the "AHCA" as I like to call it. Many folks call it "Obamacare", but the two poked fun of the horrendous rollout of the website part of the health care exchanges to the tune of an old George Strait song. Maybe if the Teabagger Republican governors would have cooperated more with the federal government on the exchanges, and worked for their constituents instead of a political party (a small one I might add), then maybe the rollout would have been smoother. Watch for the reaction of Taylor Swift, who is a big President Obama supporter. Lets hope they get it all fixed in the next few weeks, and get the federal exchanges humming as well as the state exchanges, where enrollment is surging. Those are the states where the governor cooperated and didn't suffer from OHDS: Obama Hatred Derangement Syndrome. The website is actually handling a fair clip of people, and will get better. If you do not have health insurance either thorough Medicaid or your employment, many will find they will be covered by Medicaid, qualify for subsidies to help pay for it, or find a cheap health insurance plan through the exchanges for as little as $20 a month. You may need it one day. Visit HealthCare.gov today to see your options.