Comedy Gives Back is the safety net for the comedy community and is now establishing a cohesive online health portal for working people in the comedy community, from comedians to club waitstaff to bookers and freelancers. While Comedy Gives Back HealthNet is not health insurance, it was created with detailed input from stand-up comedians to meet comedians where they are, whether on the road or at home. Comedy Gives Back HealthNet is an online portal that provides access to low-cost and transparent pricing for prescriptions, specialists, urgent care & ER visits. It also grants access to virtual mental health therapy and self-led addiction recovery treatment.
From the smallest of issues to the largest, comedians now have somewhere to turn when they experience health problems.
The founders of Comedy Gives Back share their vision. “This is a step towards a solution to a larger problem that stand-up comedians and gig workers face, the lack of proper, affordable insurance and healthcare. We are offering a health care portal acting as a safety net when it comes to healthcare for the entire comedy community. We look to expand this coverage, with the generous support of other comedians and industry donors. We have to do better for artists including our striking writers and actors, some who have no health insurance like most comedians. This offering is one massive step in that direction.” said Zoe Friedman, CGB Co- Founder.
“The one complaint we hear over and over again is comedians have NO HEALTHCARE. This is an empowering step in that direction,” said Amber J. Lawson, CGB Co-Founder.
“With the CGB HealthNet, comics at home or touring can sleep easier knowing that their health insurance benefits are upgraded regardless if they ‘bomb’ or ‘kill’ that night,” says legendary comedian and CGB Talent Board member Richard Lewis.
Comedy Gives Back HealthNet sign up begins today, September 13th, 2023.
The annual fee of $200 covers the following:
1. Smart Virtual Care ™, where you input your symptoms to receive advice from GigSafety.net’s network of healthcare professionals who check your symptoms and recommend a plan of action.
2. One free telemed appointment annually (additional telemed appts vary depending on level of care needed, but start as low as $25)
3. Access to low-cost and transparent pricing for prescriptions (existing and new)
4. Access to low-cost and transparent pricing for Specialists, Hospital stays, X-rays, and more
5. Access to virtual mental health therapy
6. Access to a self-led recovery treatment program
7. Virtual Pet Health Care
8. Access to risk-sharing health coverage (at an additional cost).
SIGN UP for Comedy Gives Back HealthNet HERE
Thanks to The Fully Loaded Tour, Bert and LeeAnn Kreischer’s generous support of Comedy Gives Back, CGB is able to grant one year of coverage for the first 100 qualifying comedians. Applications close Oct 15th, 2023.
Instructions to apply receive a year of free coverage:
1. Dates to apply, 9/13- 10/15
2. Go to https://www.comedygivesback.com/cgbhealthnet and complete application to be considered
3. Upon qualifying, you will be sent further instructions to complete your enrollment in the plan
Qualifying criteria to receive a year of free coverage:
– Be a working comedian for 3+ years (proof is required)
– Earn between 12K – 75K as a stand-up comedian for the last 2 calendar years (proof of income is required)
The CGB HealthNet was created in partnership with Gig Safety Net, a healthcare technology company with roots in the comedy community.
“Our vision was to support gig workers in staying healthy and not going into debt because of health care costs, ” said Steve Marmel, comedian and founder of Gig Safety Net which powers CGB HealthNet.
For more information, please visit https://www.comedygivesback.com/cgbhealthnet or by emailing healthnet@comedygivesback.com.
