Health insurance needed for VO Talents

Rich Roszel

I just wanted to throw this topic out for consideration by the masses in the Voice123 family. I'm a voice talent and production guy who has been in the business for about 25 years. The entire time, I've been working for someone else full-time and doing freelance voice work on the side. Although the full-time job has involved audio work, what I've really wanted to do is become a full-time, self-employed voice talent.

Aside from the fear of not getting enough jobs to support my family, my biggest concern is not being able to get health insurance. I'm diabetic and can't get it for myself unless I'm part of a group policy. My wife stays home taking care of our children so I can't get insurance through her work.

I saw in another post that Voice123 has approximately 5000 paid members. I don't know how may others share my need for insurance, but by anybody's standards, 5000 people represents a large group. I'm wondering if Voice123 would consider making arrangements with a health insurance provider to get a group rate with guaranteed coverage for it's members. Obviously, the members would pay for their own policies. No doubt it would increase the number of paid memberships, and thereby the revenue, to Voice123 as well.

So what do you think? Are there others in the business who face this same hurdle? I'd love to hear your thoughts and solutions.

Best regards,

Rich Roszel
-- voiceover Services, Sound Design, Audio Consulting, podcasting

Visit me online at www.richroszel.com
E-mail: rich@richroszel.com
Phone: 770-531-9677 (Studio)
770-965-1193 (Home)

Freddie Molina · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006, 22:36 (GMT) Post subject:

Dear Rich,
We really appreciate you bringing this up to our attention, for a fact we can bring your comments up to Voice123´s upper management, we believe it is a great idea and (you never know) it can be taken on to consideration for future developments.
Thank you daumen rauf

John Schofield · **Voice Talent** Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 2

If you guys in the upper management need some Insurance advice or info...please feel free to contact me !!! My wife owns an Independant Insurance Company and she specializes in Group Medical Insurance !!! John Schofield

Freddie Molina · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006, 00:06 (GMT) Post subject:

Thank you John, we´ll let them know daumen rauf

Larry Wayne · **Voice Talent** Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 2

Rich!

I think you're on to something! I'm just like you. Full time gig, but love doin vo more than anything. A major obstacle to making that reality is health insurance.

V123 team...wshat do you say? Can this be looked in to??
(BTW - nice character demo, Rich)

larry wayne

Alex Torrenegra

Amy Lowe · **Voice Talent** Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Posts: 1

First I must say HELLO! I'm new to this site and this is my first post. I like having this tool to use and hope we can all be valuable resources to each other.

I like many others have a full time job that provides health insurance and do VO's on the side but I was talking to a friend the other day who uses www.ehealth.com. It's a site that let's you buy independent insurance. There are several choices depending on how much you want to spend. I haven't used it myself and I'm sure its more than a group rate would be, but it is an option.

Freddie Molina

Well, you are the boss niedermayr anbeten

Juliana Bery · **Voice Talent** Joined: 15 Mar 2004 Posts: 16

Brilliant. I've been struggling with this issue for years myself - also a Diabetic by the way - but never would've thought to bring Voice123 into the movement! I think it's a fabulous concept, especially for those of us non-union VO's who work hard to make this a full-time living.

PLEASE, V123, let us know when this can be prioritized and if you'll need any type of support from your members. I go to a Chinese Doctor for many of my diabetic needs, and he has succeeded in getting the attention of Congress to start recognizing 'alternative' medicines as legit for insurance coverage. I think if he can handle such a mighty chore, we can give V123 all the support it needs to make this happen. I'd love to see it come to fruition! Thanks for your efforts, and I can't wait to watch it come to life... Surprised

Debbie Abrams Feldman · **Voice Talent** Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 1

Hello everyone,

I've never responded to blogs or anything like this before, but I've been a professional vo'er for almost 20 years......I used to be able to get health insurance through a program in Florida for self-employeds, but that was squelched years ago. I'm a big believer in natural health remedies and thank the gods have not had any problems....chiropractor I pay each month.....gym...eat healthy etc. But I had to respond to the idea of group health insurance through Voice 123. What a fabulous idea !!! I can't afford anything more than hospitalization but at age 57 the future doesn't promise me perfect health. I would greatly appreciate this becoming a priority of investigation and think there are many more out there like me and the respondant(s) who would be very interested in participating. Thanks for the outlet here.

Debbie Feldman
www.voiceworksbydeb.com

Amy Taylor · **Voice Talent** Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 2

Hello. I agree that insurance is a problem for many VO's- including me. This group plan thing could work..

Many years ago I got my insurance through an art gallery I was working at, and so did 20 or so artists whose work was on display there. The gallery owner came up with the idea to get a group rate. The artists paid their own premiums and it was cheaper than going it alone. It was a great solution for freelance artists to have health coverage.

I would like to know how to get the ball rolling on this. I've checked out those on line insurance quotes. They are quite frightening!

Happy Halloween!

Amy Taylor
www.amytaylorvoice.com

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006, 04:27 (GMT) Post subject:

I self insure with an HSA (health savings account) coupled with high-deductible insurance. The company I use is Assurant Health. They specialize in self-employed people. The HSA (similar to the Medical Savings Account, both of which are sometimes referred to as the Medical IRA) is a tax-deductible savings account to which you can deposit 100% of your deductible annually ($2450 for individuals, about $5k for families); the contribution is written off on your US Income tax, thereby decreasing your taxable income by that much. You don't have to put anything in the HSA in order to have it set up; the funds you do put in can be used for any medical expense down to a bottle of aspirin; and anything you don't spend in the HSA can be drawn out at retirement age without penalty -- you only pay whatever your tax rate is on it at that point. Additionally, self-employeds can also deduct 100% of their health insurance premiums. I've been very happy with both the premium cost per month (less than $200 -- which is hard to beat on the open market, believe me) and how good the insurance is.

Nikki Saco · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Posts: 465

I'm in the same boat. I retired last year from what I did full-time and haven't been without regular health insurance in 20 years, but at 45 stuff can happen. I purchased hospitalization only which is still an option for anyone who doesn't have a chronic health problem like diabetis requiring better coverage.

If Voice123 can pull it off, they'll be even more popular. This forum already pitched them forward several notches. Thank you Rick for bringing this up. And thanks Freddie and especially Alex for liking the idea.

Jackie Linn · **Voice Talent** Joined: 15 Oct 2006 Posts: 3

This is my first post, but I had to say, what a great idea - regarding insurance. Really! I've been in radio about 17 years, and now have started my own production company and am without insurance completely.

Let me know if I can do anything to help the cause.

James Donaldson · **Voice Talent** Joined: 06 Aug 2003 Posts: 7

What about this freelancerunion.org I've seen advertised on subway posters here in New York - any info :javascript:emoticon(' Question

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