This just in ...

[kinzel]

Sigh ...

I do wish the world and writers were more in tune...

as mentioned elsewhere in the blogosphere:

Steven Brust is a a bind, in part due to some bills that need paying; as I understand it a hospital has put a lien on his house.

This link is to a donate button http://dreamcafe.com/donate.html ... at the top of that page you should also find a "log" which, reading backwards, may provide details of interest.

So, anyone out there want (and know how) to start a Writers and Artists Insurance Cooperative? Insurance is the reason Sharon is currently distracted by a "real job" instead of writing full time here at the Catfarm and Confusion Factory.

Comments

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

SFWA did this, in connection with other non-profits...

but it fell apart because each state has individual rules and they all want high-profit folks -- and writers aren't a high-profit group.

I can't blame this on SFWA, and you shouldn't either. Not even the Writers Guild insurance is a damn bit of good for me, since I'm in Maine and Maine is *not covered*...

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

Maybe SFWA should be joining with the screen writers and romance writers to produce a large enough writers group that it would be "profitable" -- so they could get reasonable policies.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Maybe SFWA should be joining with the screen writers and romance writers to produce a large enough writers group that it would be "profitable" -- so they could get reasonable policies.

No, we tried that; SFWA and RWA and MWA and HWA and whatever acronymn the Western writers use, and Sisters in Crime and I forget who-all -- all those groups piggy-backed on the NWU to make a big enough "group" to get some access to affordable (for some value of "affordable") health insurance to their members. It worked for awhile. Then the rules changed specifically to make such "umbrella" groups impossible.

Honest to ghod, I spent a lot of time and did a lot of research, first as SFWA's Executive Director, then as President, trying to figure out A Way, SOME Way to get affordable health insurance to writers. If it's out there, it's hiding 'way down in a canyon somewhere...

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

Sorry if this sounded a bit strident -- I'd spent much time trying to track down insurance carriers for SFWA during Sharon's presidency and national carriers practically laughed off SFWA's minuscule membership and the demographics that came with it. Given what members said they could afford to pay and what insurer's asked there was an ever growing gap of affordability.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

Sorry -- that is no fun to fid out.

Would you believe that on my last visit, my *doctor* announced that it was "time for socialized medicine". We would all cheer, I have no doubt.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I get that *covered* thing. AARP does not have coverage in Kansas. Missouri is literally in my back yard, and there is coverage in the back yard. Grrrr.