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Partner Profile: David Leicht, HIP
by E. James Ford in Winter 2007
In 2006, Fractured Atlas offered two new full-featured healthcare plans to its New York members with comprehensive hospital and medical benefits. The plans became available thanks to a long-standing association with HIP/NY and, in particular, the efforts of HIP Association Representative David Leicht.
"I was approached by Adam last winter about the possibility of Fractured Atlas coming on as an association through HIP," says David. "I thought this was a great idea. I know from personal experience that health insurance can be very intimidating and confusing--not to mention expensive!"
That personal experience comes from David's years of working as an independent artist. He is a long-standing member of the Afro-Brazilian drumming group Maracatu NY, which combines the rhythms of Northeastern Brazil with the rhythms of the New Orleans Second Line. The group has performed at Lincoln Center, Central Park Summerstage, and at Carnival in Recife, Brazil. He is also a drummer for the politically-slanted power pop band the Republickins and has worked extensively as an actor, writer, and performance artist.
David's double-life of "insurance-representative-by-day/musician-by-night" may sound familiar to many artists who work in different fields to support their creative endeavors. But having a foot in both industries allowed David to uniquely address the problems artists face with health insurance.
"We are unfortunately still dealing with a political climate in America that undervalues the arts," says David. "[It's] an outdated system that expects traditional employers to pick up the tab for healthcare. Basically, the attitude is, 'if you want protection for yourself or your family in the case of sickness or accidents, then get a 'real' job."
But these new plans allow Fractured Atlas members to use their collective bargaining power to negotiate a lower premium. By joining together under one banner, Fractured Atlas members can speak to the insurance companies in a language they understand: numbers.
"Let's face it — the prohibitive cost of health insurance is probably the most important problem in America right now," continues David. "This is especially true for those working independently in non-traditional fields such as the arts. Although this problem can't be fixed overnight, we have to use every resource available, band together, and get organized to deal with this problem. There is strength in numbers, and the more good information and meaningful dialogue that gets out there, the better."
For more information about the new insurance plans available to Fractured Atlas members in New York, please visit www.fracturedatlas.org/healthcare.
To learn more about David’s creative work visit www.maracatuny.com and www.republickins.com.
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