GMA Offers Sound Healthcare Coverage Benefit To Members

Sat, Jul 19, 2008 @ 10:12 AM PST

Gospel Music Association Logo

Gospel Music Association Logo

The Gospel Music Association (GMA) will begin making healthcare more accessible and affordable for its members with the launch of GMA Sound Healthcare, a new and exciting benefit which will offer domestic GMA members access to worldwide comprehensive health insurance coverage, announced John W. Styll, president and CEO of the GMA.

The new program in conjunction with the National Business Association will be available to GMA members at the professional level living in the United States.

“The music business has increasingly become populated by self-employed and small business professionals, for whom a great health plan can be an elusive proposition,” said Styll. “GMA Sound Healthcare will address the concerns facing those who don’t currently have access to strong coverage with a benefit that fits their needs and their budgets. And by the way, GMA does not have any financial participation in this program. It is being offered purely as a benefit to our Professional members.”

GMA Sound Healthcare allows participants a choice of program options, each of which can be shaped individually to address the participant’s priorities. And because the program is being offered under the auspices of the National Business Association, costs to GMA members will be very competitive with those set by plans designed for larger groups.

In addition to individual, group coverage is also available for companies and their employees who are looking for affordable coverage, custom-tailored for GMA members.

Highlights of the GMA Sound Healthcare benefits include:

* Comprehensive coverage (both in hospital and out patient).

* 90/10 insurance co-pay at all Vanderbilt facilities (80/20 co-pay at other medical facilities).

* Covers emergency treatment for domestic members when traveling anywhere in the world.

* Immediate family members (spouse and children) are eligible to purchase coverage under the member’s GMA Member ID.

* Members cannot be singled out for a rate increase or for cancellation.

GMA Sound Healthcare will be administered by program Executive Director RJ Stillwell, a veteran insurance professional who also boasts a 10-year career in the music industry, making him uniquely qualified to help GMA professional members with their insurance needs. Stillwell, who also serves as the National Business Association’s Regional Director, an organization that boasts 25 years of experience as an advocate in other areas, such as education and lifestyle, as well as an active lobbying presence on Capitol Hill, and a history of cooperation with the Insurance of America Agency, which focuses exclusively on maximizing coverage choices for the self-employed and small businesses.

The GMA Sound Healthcare plan works through affiliations with several different providers, in order to open as many options as possible while keeping expenses low. One, for example, allows a 90/10 split of expenses for treatment received at the Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, which beats the health care industry standard of insurance companies paying 80 percent and their customers paying 20 percent.

GMA Sound Healthcare works beyond Nashville as well. For musicians on the road, this “portability” can be especially valuable. Covered members of GMA will have access to treatment they need with a 24-hour, toll-free number, provided by the National Business Association with access to medical personnel who will, in many instances, be able to provide a long-distance diagnosis and call in a prescription to the nearest pharmacy, with a $35 co-pay.

Additionally, VMC has created the Services for the Performing Arts exclusively for the music industry, for all health needs and for appointment assistance. Specialized treatment plans for vocal strain, hearing damage, tinnitus and other occupational hazards, through conventional and holistic procedures, can also be included through GMA Sound Healthcare.

GMA members who subscribe to GMA Sound Healthcare also will be able to set up their own Health Savings Account (HSA). This program enables investment of up to $5,800 per calendar year in an interest-bearing account. All interest earned is tax-deferred until account holders choose to make withdrawals at or after age 65 – but they can also be taken out earlier to cover whatever medical expenses require attention.

The only requirement to participate in GMA Sound Healthcare is active domestic individual professional membership in GMA. Spouses and children are eligible too, whether or not they are GMA members themselves. This makes enrollment worthwhile even for professional GMA members who have coverage for themselves, but not for the rest of their immediate families. For information about becoming a GMA member, please visit www.gospelmusic.org.

For more information, visit www.gmasoundhealthcare.org or contact RJ Stillwell, Executive Director of GMA Sound Healthcare at 615-256-8667 or musicrow@aol.com. The National Business Association can be contacted directly at 800-456-0440.

About GMA:

Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the gospel/Christian music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music of all styles including pop, rock, praise & worship, black gospel, R&B, hip hop, southern gospel, country, and more. The GMA community consists of 4,000 members including agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers, songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards, GMA Music Week, GMA Music in the Rockies, and the GMA Academy. For more information, please visit www.gospelmusic.org.

Sat, Jul 19, 2008 @ 10:12 AM