Actors' Equity Association Asks New York State to Update COBRA Subsidies

Actors' Equity Association, representing actors and stage managers in live theatre, is still seeing record levels of unemployment as theatre remains closed due to the pandemic. Equity members earn their health insurance through union contracts, so thousands of workers have lost access to healthcare over the last year during the industry's shutdown.
New York is the only state that offers a COBRA subsidy for entertainment workers, increasing the affordability to remain on a union health plan. While also pushing for a federal COBRA subsidy, Equity members, other Broadway unions and their allies are rallying for a desperately-needed update to the state program, including increasing funding in the upcoming state budget and broadening eligibility. Sign the petition here!