Porn star and KSEX radio NSFW host Nicki Hunter has recently been diagnosed with cancer of the lymph system (details NSFW). KSEX has set up a 30-day fundraising drive with Smart SMS text messaging provider, in which 80 percent of every 99-cent get well message goes to Nicki's medical fund, according to AVN NSFW. (That link also has the instructions for how to send a message and contribute.)
I wish the very best for Nicki as she battles the cancer and I hope her youth and strength and the community support will get her through as quickly and painlessly as possible! There seem to be a number of benefits in the works, which you can find out about on KSEX and AVN.
But I'm concerned that she, and many others like her, does not have health insurance. Why not? Other independent contractors do (although don't get me started on how messed up the system is; freelance writer Jenny Price does a great job of summing it up in "Why I'm Happy My Health Insurance Costs $12,268/Year").
Do companies refuse to insure porn stars?
Do the young women (and men) in the entertainment business not realize that they need to be saving money, setting up retirement investment accounts, and getting health insurance? I am sure many realize it but feel they can't afford it.
I am in no way trying to blame or criticize Nicki for not having insurance. But I am genuinely curious: why not? If you're young, and especially if you're single and have no children, and you're making a few hundred per scene, even if you only do a scene a week, you should still be able to spare $50 a month for catastrophic insurance. (Nicki is married with children, btw.)
The adult industry has an excellent resource in AIM for ensuring and monitoring sexual health, but that's not the only kind of health concern.
I'm going to have to call around and learn more about this. And if you work in health care -- or entertainment -- and have some insight into the state of health insurance among self-employed professionals, let me know!
