As a Guild member you have access to health insurance benefits in a variety of ways, depending on your current work status.
If you're a writer in screen, television, or digital media working under the MBA (Minimum Basic Agreement), you may be eligible for coverage in the Writers Guild-Industry Health Fund. In order to qualify for Guild coverage, you must have accumulated and had reported to the Fund (by your signatory employer) covered earnings of at least $33,681 during a period of four or fewer consecutive calendar quarters.
Visit the Health Fund website for details on eligibility and coverage.
If you're a news employee working under a WGA contract, you are probably enrolled in your employer’s health benefits plan. However, members working at CBS Broadcast News are generally eligible for the Writers Guild-Industry Health Fund. Your shop steward, personnel officer, or the Guild representative assigned to your shop can provide information on your health insurance as well as on pensions, profit sharing and other benefits your employer may provide.
If you are currently ineligible for Writers Guild Industry Health Fund Coverage:
If you are a Guild member who is not earning enough money from Guild-covered work to qualify for insurance, we may be able to help. Please contact the organizing department at 212-767-7808. The more union work you do the closer you will be to qualifying.
WGAE members who are currently ineligible for the Writers Guild-Industry Health Fund have access to the Actors' Fund free health care clinic in New York City. The Actors’ Fund’s Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic offers urgent, primary and specialty care with low-cost referrals to a wide range of specialty clinics and practitioners.
We also encourage WGAE members to take advantage of the Artists Health Insurance Resource Center. Co-sponsored by the Writers Guild of America, East and the Actors' Fund of America, the AHIRC is available for FREE for all WGAE members.
