Washington State

 

Artist Trust is theparent organization of the Washington Artists Health Insurance Program (WAHIP). This program began in 2004 with a focus on four areas related to systemic change for individual artists seeking health insurance and health care: 1) Education and Information, 2) Artists Health Coverage Plans, 3) Coalition Building and Advocacy, and 4) New Subsidy and Funding Streams. Since its establishment, WAHIP worked with the Washington State Artist Alliance to ensure the successful passage of SB 5261 (2008), which grants the Washington State Insurance Commission authority to review health benefit plan rates, a move that will improve affordability in the insurance market for individuals. Currently, WAHIP continues to expand its education and information strategies to provide information services on health insurance through collaboration with the Actors Fund and through the launch of a searchable health resource directory targeted to artists in Washington State found at http://www.artisttrust.org/pro_resources/ArtistClinic.

 

In March 2008, WAHIP activities expanded to include two direct service programs for artists. The first program was a series of free health screenings conducted for King County artists, offered in conjunction with a new medical provider, Qliance. The second program, The Artist Clinic, is a direct service plan launched as a pilot in January 2009.  The clinic offers subsidized quality health care to uninsured artists through Country Doctor Community Health Center. This year, Artist Trust will evaluate the program to determine potential for replication to more clinics to serve artists throughout Washington State. 

Artist Trust’s mission is to support and encourage individual artists working in all disciplines in order to enrich community life throughout Washington State. Its programs and services address the needs of individual artists who traditionally have limited access to resources and make art happen in the face of often overwhelming technical, financial, or cultural odds. Artist Trust envisions a future where artists throughout Washington State have access to the resources they need to express their creative spirit and where artists are held in the highest esteem.

 

July 2003 – July 2009