A Message from NY Local President Ezra Knight

News Updates

Dear Member,

I am writing today with an urgent call to action to make sure that NY State’s COBRA subsidy program for the entertainment industry receives crucially needed updates in the final adopted state budget. These changes will ensure the program reaches more middle-income entertainment workers as they continue to cope with the challenges of the pandemic. Best of all, the changes have no effect on the funding level of the COBRA subsidy program as proposed in Governor Hochul's budget.

Please encourage New York State Assembly and Senate members to include the updates, which will help so many of our members keep their health coverage. Email the following offices with the sample message below.

As a New York member of SAG-AFTRA, I am writing to thank you for your ongoing support of the NYS COBRA subsidy program for entertainment workers. The subsidy program continues to provide a crucial lifeline for people in the entertainment industry who lose (or who have already lost) their health insurance. Considering the fiscal impact of the arts in New York, keeping our community covered has never been more important to our state’s financial health and well-being. 

As you are aware, the entertainment industry has suffered greatly during the pandemic. Your support of the COBRA subsidy has allowed skilled arts workers across NY State (not only in the five boroughs, but through the Hudson Valley, and into upstate) -- workers of all ages, races and economic backgrounds – to remain enrolled in quality health insurance, and keep their doctors. 

Now, I am asking for your support for some much-needed updates to the NYC subsidy program that we are proposing be included in the final adopted State budget. These changes will allow the program to reach more middle-income entertainment workers and effectively address their current needs. 

A lot has changed since the COBRA subsidy program was enacted in 2004, in particular the advent of the Affordable Care Act and programs like the NY Essential Plan. The proposed updates to the subsidy program include:
  • Raising the monthly income eligibility threshold to 400% FPL
  • Increasing the subsidy from 50% to 75% of COBRA premium
  • Changing the max subsidy to 12 months in 5 years (rather than a 12-month lifetime max)
  • No longer losing the subsidy if you qualify for a lower tier of coverage
It’s important to note that this is not a request to change the funding level of the COBRA subsidy program. Governor Hochul’s budget already includes a $505,000 new appropriation for FY 22-23, and a re-appropriation of $1.9M from FY 21-22. 

Again, we in the entertainment community value your support. We trust we can count on you to back these essential legislative updates. 


Take action today so we can make sure our voices are heard. 

Forward together,

Ezra Knight
New York Local President

News

Help Center

On-Set Emergency

On-Set Emergency: (844) 723-3773

Help Center

How can we help? Call, chat with a rep, get answers to FAQs or send us an email.

CALL US
(855) SAG-AFTRA / (855) 724-2387
On-Set Emergency: (844) 723-3773
Phone Chat FAQ Created with Sketch. FAQ Email Created with Sketch. Email