fmaldy24

Me either

What is he up to next? Having a rest after the Park or straight into something else?

♥ Gale's Fragile Beauty ♥

I haven't heard, but I imagine he's auditioning. He has said that if he's not working, aside from not having the income, he doesn't have health insurance, which he needs.

varo_kamry

It is rare that he goes directly from one big role (especially a challenging one) to another, or that we hear immediately about his next role. I'm sure that he is auditioning. Of course he may pick up a few one night gigs right away..like something with The Skivvies or a staged reading of a play.

Sia

Thanks for info Mark, its nice to hear experience from someone who knows Randy for years.

Deborah: what did you mean with the health insurance? That he has health insurance only when he is doing some project? Thats really not ideal situation.

Giotto

I think that is the way health insurance works in the US isn't it? no job, no insurance.. isn't it?

Sia

I know in US its different but I thought you could pay insurance from your own. At least here you can pay health insurance even if you are unemployed. Or problem is Randy does not have sufficient savings for it?
Because what about people who have money and are unemployed in US, dont work, they cant pay health insurance from their savings, I woudl suspect.

varo_kamry

It is different for actors. You are right that some people in the US pay for their own health insurance and many who are employed full time can qualify for a "group plan" provided as part of their employment contract. Most actor's, of course, are not employed full time.

Randy belongs to Actor's Equity, the labor union for theater actors. A health insurance is offered to members via group plans from a number of different insurance companies.

From Actor's Equity website:

In order to qualify for plan eligibility, you must have at least 11 weeks of covered employment* in any 12 calendar months “accumulation period” to qualify for 6 months of coverage. If you attain 19, or more, weeks of covered employment in an accumulation period, you may qualify for 12 months of coverage. Participants are evaluated for health coverage eligibility after the end of each month and there is a two-month waiting period after the 12-month accumulation period ends before coverage can begin (e.g., if you had 11 weeks of covered employment for the 12-month period ending on December 31, your coverage could begin as early as March 1 the following year).


"Covered Employment" means acting in a play or production under an Equity contract:

Equity negotiates and administers more than 30 national and regional contracts with theatrical employers. These agreements provide minimum salaries, benefits, job security and numerous other protections to ensure a safe and dignified work environment.

Cabaret and Sunday in the Park were definitely Equity productions so Randy should be pretty well covered at this point. I'm not sure about performing with "The Skivvies", but I'm sure Nick Cearley and Lauren Molina are Equity members, so maybe their shows need Equity negotiated contracts.

Appearances at fancons and other events like that - while they provide income - do not count as work credit toward health insurance coverage.

SAG-AFTRA which represents Movie TV and radio performers have the same rules and I believe he is a member of that union too.

Giotto

Wow, Mark, you are a well of knowledge Thanks for sharing that with us and let us know that Randy is save

Sia

Yeah,thanks a lot Mark, I did not know any of this, thats quiet complex and important is that it works for Randy. Certainly life of an artist is not an easy one regarding some practical issues but very rewarding in many other ways.

Giotto

I thimk doing a job like that, you have to be a very enthisiastic person who sometimes likes to take a risk...

Sia

Yeah, and that Randy certainly is. its really admirable.

Giotto

I already miss all the pics on facebook again

Sia

Hopefully we will see him soon in some other project, he usually does not disappear for long periods.

Giotto

I'm glad about that, I would miss him very much

♥ Gale's Fragile Beauty ♥

Thanks Mark, for the explanation of how the health insurance works for equity actors.