The film and entertainment industries have a long history in California. Motion picture production dates to the early 1900s. Today, “entertainment” encompasses film, TV, radio, broadcasters, streamers, production companies and recording firms, performing arts organizations, theaters, dance studios, symphonies, orchestras, ballets companies, operas, schools, and many other related fields.

Employers include both non-profit and for-profit organizations and some world-renown brands. It also includes countless smaller and mid-sized firms, some engaged in distantly related fields. Employment in California in these businesses runs into millions. While many are employed by large firms, many others work for small and mid-sized companies.

If you’re among them, and you have 100 or fewer employees, you might wonder about your options to offer health insurance to your employers with health insurance.

Health Insurance for Entertainment Industry

Exchange vs. Union Coverage

Depending on the focus of your business, some of your employees might qualify for health insurance through one of the dozens of entertainment-related associations, organization, guilds, and unions.

You might have some familiarity with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), or the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), which are known collectively as SAG-AFTRA. Many entertainment professionals get their health insurance through this group based on credits earned working for a producer who has signed a Collective Bargaining Agreement with SAG-AFTRA. Others may have health coverage available to them through another union or guild.

If your business employs workers on a more traditional schedule where they work 30 or more hours each week, you might want to consider offering benefits through the CaliforniaChoice private health insurance exchange. Our approach is different from most other health plans. We recognize that you and your employees are different. Your health care needs are unique. We are, too.

We proudly offer a “California Different” way to deliver employee benefits. Whether you have a single employee or 100 (or anything in between), we can give them more choice. Our program offers greater access to doctors, specialists, and hospitals than any other single health insurance program in California.

With CaliforniaChoice, you get “big business benefits” without a big-ticket price. In fact, ours is one of the fastest-growing health plans in California. And we’ve been serving California businesses for nearly 30 years.

Choose Coverage That’s Right for Your Industry

Flexibility is a key advantage of CaliforniaChoice. Each member is able to choose from multiple coverage options. For 2025, employees have seven health plans and 100+ coverage options from which to choose.

One of your employees might choose a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan because it includes a particular doctor or hospital in its network. Another employee, who rarely visits the doctor, might choose a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan. A third might select a Health Savings Account (HSA)-compatible plan because of its cost and tax advantages. Whatever each of your employees’ needs may be, it’s their choice with CaliforniaChoice.

The health plans participating in CaliforniaChoice for 2025 are:

• Anthem Blue Cross
• Health Net
• Kaiser Permanente
• Sharp Health Plan
• Sutter Health Plan
• UnitedHealthcare
• Western Health Advantage

The availability of each plan depends on where you and your employees live. Some plans are available statewide, while others are regional.

Control Health Insurance Costs for Your Business

With CaliforniaChoice, you decide the amount you want to contribute to employees’ premiums.

You can select a Fixed Percentage (50% to 100%) of a specific plan or benefit. Or you can contribute a Fixed Dollar Amount for each employee. (All employees must receive the same contribution to their premiums.)

Your employees then apply your generous contribution to the health plan and benefits they like best. If they choose a plan that costs more than you’re contributing, the employee pays the difference. It’s that simple.

At renewal, you can change your premium contribution for your next plan year. You can adjust it up or down. It’s your choice. That puts you in control of your benefits cost for another 12 months.

If your employees want to make changes, they can move to a different coverage type or a different health insurer. They don’t have to leave the CaliforniaChoice program.

Get Medical, Dental, Vision, and More

CaliforniaChoice offers more than just health coverage. You can offer ancillary benefits for your employees, too:

• Dental: Choose from three Dental plans – a MetLife or SmileSaver^SM Dental HMO or an Ameritas Dental PPO.
• Vision: Voluntary Vision from Vision One Eyecare offers discounts on vision care services and prescription eyewear.
• Chiropractic: Landmark Healthplan offers chiropractic benefits including exams and adjustments plus optional benefits for acupuncture.
• Life and AD&D: Coverage is available from Assurity Life with Accidental Death & Dismemberment benefits and a living benefits provision.

Enjoy Value-Added Extras

With the CaliforniaChoice Business Solutions Suite and Member Value Suite, you and your employees also get access to a range of “extra benefits,” including:

• A no-cost Premium Only Plan (POP) that allows employees to pay their share of insurance costs pre-tax, while also reducing your tax liability as an employer.
• A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) that lets employees set aside a portion of their salary on a pre-tax basis to use for eligible FSA medical expenses like copays and prescription drugs. (For groups with 15 or more employees.)
• COBRA participant invoicing, premium collection, and remittance. (Availability of Cal-COBRA or federal COBRA billing services depends on your company’s group size.)
• Dental Care services at reduced fees through 20,000+ Dentegra® Smile Club dentists.
• Savings on hearing tests, hearing aids, batteries, and more from EPIC Hearing Service Plan.
• Prescription drug savings when using the California Rx Card. (Cardholders may be able to reduce their Rx out-of-pocket costs to less than their health plan copay.)
• Free Cal Perks memberships to your employees – offering savings on tickets to theme and water parks, sporting events, museums, and movies – plus travel and other discounts.
• Discounted fitness center memberships + savings on wellness services and products, including Vitamix, Fitbit, and more.

Picture Your Company with CaliforniaChoice Coverage

If you’re interested in more information about CaliforniaChoice and why it might be the right choice for your entertainment business, ask your employee benefits broker for a quote. Find out how it can protect your employees and help you control your costs.

If you don’t have a broker, it’s easy to search for one at MyCalChoice.com.