Arts Services Inc. (ASI) has teamed up with the Amherst Chamber of Commerce to provide Western New York’s arts and cultural community access to group-rate health insurance—no membership required!

For Arts Organizations:

• Small Group Plans: Eligible organizations can secure affordable group health insurance by submitting a NYS-45 form. This form verifies that you have one or more employees (excluding the business owner and/or spouse) who will enroll in the insurance.
• Independent Contractors: If your small business only has 1099 employees, you may still qualify for Small Group plans.

For Individual Artists and Businesses:

If you own and operate your own business, you can access Individual Market insurance through the Amherst Chamber. This includes a wide range of arts professionals—musicians, sculptors, writers, tech crew, arts administrators, and more.

Available Healthcare Plans (2025):

• Medical Rates for Individuals (Highmark)
• Medical Rates for Individuals (Independent Health)
• Medical Rates for Individuals (Univera)
• Medical Rates for Small Group

Individualized Support from the Amherst Chamber of Commerce:

The Amherst Chamber of Commerce offers personalized support to help you navigate health insurance options and find the best fit for your situation:

• For Sole Proprietors and Individuals – The Chamber can help you identify a plan that fits your budget and meets your healthcare needs.
• For Small Businesses with 1099 Employees – The Chamber can create a group insurance plan designed to lower individual premium costs.
• For Small Firms Without Benefits Expertise – If you’re unsure how to select plans for your employees, the Chamber will meet with you and your team to develop customized solutions.
• For Lowering Premium Costs – The Chamber can guide you through the benefits of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), explaining both the immediate and long-term value—for you and your employees—at no additional cost.

Dental and Vision Coverage:

The Amherst Chamber also offers dental and vision coverage. Most dental insurance policies emphasize prevention and diagnostics, typically covering two annual exams and cleanings, as well as X-rays and fluoride treatments for children, but the real benefit is being covered for bigger ticket procedures such as fillings, root canals, and crowns. Pediatric Dental coverage, an essential health benefit under the Affordable Care Act for dependents under the age of 19, is embedded in some but not all dental plans and differs in coverage.

Available Dental and Vision Plans (2025):

• Highmark Blue Edge Dental
• Dental Pay Plus
• VSP Vision Care

To learn more, visit Amherst.org, call (716) 250-0983 or email [email protected].