Austin stands as an excellent hub of music with more than 300 music venues located all over its city-wide area. And with these numerous music venues come thousands of local musicians, bands and performers. In fact, there are an estimated number of more than 8,000 musicians in Austin.
Because music is one of the biggest sources of income in Austin area, with the music industry providing 11,000 jobs, the city government is providing their best to keep the music artists, performers and singers working in their zone alive and healthy. The local city council realizes that most Austin musicians are self-employed, thus, they don’t have access to affordable healthcare. Many of the musicians are uninsured which makes them not eligible for any affordable basic dental care, primary health services and mental counseling. It is for this reason that the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) is conceived.
HAAM have several affiliates which provide the necessary medical assistance. These include the Seton Family of Hospitals for the provision of primary health services, the St. David’s Foundation for the basic dental care services and the Estes Audiology Hearing Centers for the audiology services. There is even an affiliate which offers mental health counseling and addiction recovery services and this can be obtained through the SIMS Foundation.
Any professional musician in Austin can apply to the HAAM in order for him or her to gain the necessary medical aid and benefits that he or she needs. All the musician has to do is complete the application process. Proof of work as a musician in the form of check stubs, flyers, newspaper articles, copies of contracts and liner note credits must be submitted.
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