PGA members have a variety of healthcare options available to them. While none of them represents a 'perfect plan, ' many members will be able to improve their coverage or the cost of their coverage through their PGA membership. Members may take advantage of two options: Employer-paid coverage and self-pay coverage.
Qualifying for Employer-Paid Coverage Through the Motion Picture Industry Plan
Am I eligible?
To be eligible for the program, you must...
* Be credited as an executive producer, producer, associate producer or post-production supervisor;
* Work for a company that is an AMPTP signatory, or signatory to Motion Picture Industry Health Plan;
* Work on a theatrical motion picture or primetime network television program; some primetime cable and syndicated series also quality, as do productions for which an AMPTP member agrees to make contributions; and
* Work on a production that utilizes a West Coast IA Crew.
How many hours do I have to work to qualify for coverage?
To qualify for the Industry Health Plan, a producer must be credited with 600 hours (automatically computed at 56.5 hours per week) within a six-month qualifying period. To maintain coverage, he or she must be credited with at least 400 hours for each subsequent six-month period. If a member becomes ineligible, his or her eligibility for benefits will be reviewed every month until he or she accumulates enough contribution hours within a six-month span to re-qualify for benefits.
I've determined that I qualify; how do I get my coverage to start?
Contributions are not automatic; they must be directly requested by the producer. Producers request contributions by signing and submitting a participation form within 60 days of starting eligible employment. If the producer does not submit a signed participation form, he or she will be deemed to have waived his or her right to contributions with respect to the job. Participation forms should be provided by the employer upon request. If you have difficulty obtaining a form, contact PGA Executive Director Vance Van Petten at (310) 358-9020 x104.
My company isn't an AMPTP signatory. Am I out of luck?
Not necessarily. If you are employed by a company that is a signatory to both the IATSE Basic Agreement and the Motion Picture Industry Health & Welfare and Pension Plans, you can request that they make voluntary contributions, even if they are not members of the AMPTP. This request has been granted many times, but can be difficult to secure. A good way to know if your production has signed on to the IATSE Basic Agreement is to check if the camera, grips, or sound providers are union.
If I qualify, is my employer required to approve my coverage?
Unfortunately, no. However, the cost to the employer is reasonable enough that many employers will approve the coverage.
Additionally, standard practice has dictated (though again, not required) that once a production begins making contributions to the Health Ran for one producer, it will make those same contributions for any eligible producer on the show, provided coverage is requested in a timely fashion.
Self-Pay Plans: Atlantis and Producers Health
In a perfect world, every PGA member would qualify for employer-paid coverage. For those who do not qualify, the PGA offers two self-pay options which, because of our group status, are likely to offer better rates than what members can find on the open market.
The Atlantis Health Plan is available only to New York-based members of the PGA East. The Producers Health Plans are available nationally, including in New York. If you're currently without health insurance, we encourage you to call immediately to see if you qualify for a plan that suits you. Even if you currently have coverage (particularly other self-pay coverage), it would be worth your while to investigate the options you may have through the PGA self-pay plans.
Questions? Contact:
Employer-paid Plan
Kyle Katz (310) 358-9020 x101
Self-pay Plans
Scott Brandt (888) 700-7725
