Health Alliance for Austin Musicians has set its sights high for the 10th annual HAAM Benefit Day fundraiser.
The nonprofit organization aims to collect $450,000 on Sept. 1 when more than 400 live music performances take place at various businesses throughout Austin. This year’s goal is a steep increase from the $27,000 collected during the first HAAM Benefit Day a decade ago, Executive Director Reenie Collins said.
“A huge piece of the economy is based on live music, yet we are not taking care of musicians the way we should be,” Collins said. “If people don’t care [about the problem], they should because Austin and music are synonymous.”
The money raised helps ensure health care coverage for Austin-area musicians. Collins estimates every $1 in donations helps provide $7 worth of health care services, she said, and more than one-third of HAAM’s annual budget comes from the annual day-long fundraiser.
The 10-year mark also represents a milestone for HAAM, which has provided more than $30 million in health services since 2005 to more than 3,500 musicians. Before HAAM enabled easier health care access, Collins said too many musicians who were sick or dying were uninsured and thus unable to afford treatment options.
While music industry conditions have improved, Collins admits there is still a huge health care need for musicians despite the emergence of the Affordable Care Act.
“The majority of musicians don’t make enough money to qualify,” she said.
Collins said HAAM attempts to provide services that musicians are not already receiving from other local nonprofits. There is not another program nationally exactly like HAAM, she said, although leaders in other cities, such as Seattle, Portland and New York City, have reached out to the group for advice.
There are also hybrid programs, Collins said, that pay health insurance premiums. Collins told Community Impact Newspaper in early August that she would consider enacting a similar program in Austin.
Austin Music Census, an industry survey released by the city this year, revealed 18.9 percent of respondents have no health insurance and 12.4 percent are covered by HAAM or another nonprofit.
“We’re really proud of our success, but we’re also at a tipping point,” Collins said.
