You might know the Freelancers Union from their commonly-seen subway ads, which features a bee hive and says things like "A Bigger, More Perfect-er Union," and "Lose Your Boss For Life." In November, its founder, Sara Horowitz, proudly announced that the union's health care benefits were now "perfect-er" too, as the union became its own health insurance company that, according to the Times, "tailored its offerings to freelancers, be they Web designers, jazz musicians, graphic artists or dancers."
However, it took little time for some of the union's 19,000 members to cry foul, complaining of higher premiums, higher deductibles, and "more holes than their current plans." Others were mad they had to switch plans again after a similar move the year before. In health insurance, it seems, change isn't as welcome as in politics. One woman, a freelancer grant writer, told the Times, “I have a lot of respect for what she’s accomplished, but the fact of the matter is a lot of people feel the rug has been pulled out from under them."
Ms. Horowitz, however, believes it is a long-term proposition which, in the end, puts freelancers in a stronger position. "We want to be about creating the next safety net," she explained, adding "and 99 percent of our members realize this."
“Anything new you start is going to be messy,” Ms. Horowitz said. “I regret that this causes people anxiety. The most I can do is really listen and learn and build.”
And build she will. Thanks to the Rockefeller Foundation's Campaign for American Workers, the new freelancer insurance company has a $17 million reserve. She also recently tripled the size of the customer service staff, despite tales of half-hour waits by customers trying to get answers about the new plan. And Ms. Horowitz will continue to build her vision of a more prefect-er union, despite voices of dissent in the ranks. So far, 8,000 of the 19,000 have signed up for the new plans, while the rest have until Jan 1st to hop on board.
Below, watch their newest cinema trailer that shows how "Squeaky wheels bring change.":
