Professional dancers push their bodies for years to meet the physical demands of their work, which makes access to health insurance a high priority for these performing artists. A recent Kaiser Health News article examined the issue of health insurance affordability and access through the lens of a ballet dancer, highlighting the peace of mind that came with the availability of health insurance as a direct result of the Affordable Care Act.

Allynne Noelle is one of many individuals positively impacted by the Small Business Health Options (SHOP) marketplace created by the ACA. She, like many other professional dancers, did not have access to health insurance through her company and could not afford to buy health insurance on her own. This changed when her company, Los Angeles Ballet, purchased a plan with a $6,000 monthly premium for 43 employees.  They have a bronze plan that covers primary and preventative care. This affordable coverage is significant to Noelle’s peace of mind, as dancers without health insurance who sustain injuries can find themselves out of a contract and with expensive medical bills left to pay. Many dancers live with the fear that an injury could not only hinder their career, but also create insurmountable financial debt because they are uninsured.

Any ballerina will tell you that their work is a labor of love, but more importantly, it’s a labor where injuries are common. In fact, the annual injury rates at ballet companies run between 67 and 95 percent, according to the article.  This underscores the importance of health insurance for professionals in this line of work. A dancer’s career depends on their body, its health and ability to execute movement. There is definitely room for improvement as far as the scope of coverage that SHOP plans provide for their employees, but stories like Noelle’s underscore the importance of continuing to create avenues for people to gain affordable health coverage.  Before the ACA, providing health insurance to employees was a financial impossibility for small, non-profit performing arts organizations such as dance companies. Through new health care initiatives, we are making strides in the right direction.

This story illustrates not only the value of health insurance for dancers, but also the significant impact that the ACA has continued to make on the status of American healthcare at large. Small businesses are able to help their employers maintain healthy lives while assuaging anxiety of financial detriment in the event of an injury.

Now, companies have the opportunity to improve the lives of their employees and empower them to handle health obstacles that occur both on and off stage.