S1 Ep 12: Tatum Allsep
In this episode of the Fully Armed Podcast, Chris Hennessee sits down with Tatum Allsep, founder and CEO of Music Health Alliance. Tatum’s incredible work focuses on providing healthcare resources and support to individuals in the music industry. In this insightful conversation, they delve into her journey, the challenges of healthcare in the industry, and how the Music Health Alliance has helped transform countless lives by providing much-needed advocacy and access to medical care.
Building Music Health Alliance
Tatum Allsep’s journey to founding Music Health Alliance began when she was working in music industry relations at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. The music industry had long supported St. Jude’s, but Vanderbilt, a nonprofit hospital with an incredible children's healthcare program, sought to engage the industry more deeply. At that time, Tatum was raising two young children and needed to move off the road. Vanderbilt offered her a role that bridged her knowledge of the music industry and healthcare.
Tatum quickly realized how difficult it was for musicians and professionals in the industry to secure healthcare. Most of the industry operates on a self-employed basis, with few benefiting from group health plans. Her work soon turned into a mission: helping build access to healthcare for the music community.
A Personal Struggle
While working at Vanderbilt and managing the demands of her career, Tatum experienced her own personal healthcare battle. At 21 weeks pregnant, she was hospitalized and gave birth to twins at 28 weeks. Even with insurance, Tatum left the hospital with a half-million-dollar medical bill. Embarrassed and overwhelmed, she liquidated her assets and spent ten years paying off the debt.
Her experience opened her eyes to the massive gaps in the healthcare system. She began to realize that many people in the music industry were facing similar struggles—sky-high medical bills and lack of access to affordable healthcare. This personal ordeal sparked her desire to help others navigate the healthcare system.
Founding Sound Healthcare and Music Health Alliance
After years of learning about the healthcare system at Vanderbilt, Tatum decided to build a business to address these issues. She co-founded Sound Healthcare, a for-profit company that provided health insurance to the music industry. However, her passion wasn’t in turning a profit, but in helping people. When her business partner’s goals diverged from hers, Tatum sold her shares and stepped back.
But her calling didn’t end there. Shortly after, Tatum had a dream that would change everything. She woke up with the idea for Music Health Alliance, a nonprofit organization that would offer healthcare advocacy and resources to music professionals at no cost. She founded the organization in 2013, with the mission to “protect, direct, and connect” musicians with healthcare resources.
How Music Health Alliance Works
Music Health Alliance offers healthcare navigation services for anyone in the music industry who has worked for three or more years. Their services are designed to help industry professionals, who often lack access to traditional healthcare benefits, secure affordable medical care.
Tatum explains that the organization operates on three pillars:
Protect: The first step is to figure out how to pay for healthcare. Whether it’s through insurance, financial assistance, grants, or state programs, Music Health Alliance helps clients find a way to cover their medical costs.
Direct: Once healthcare coverage is secured, Music Health Alliance helps individuals navigate their care. They create a step-by-step plan, whether the client is dealing with a new diagnosis, a child with special needs, or simply routine healthcare needs.
Connect: They connect clients to additional resources, such as grants or financial assistance from other music industry organizations. The goal is to make healthcare affordable and accessible to everyone in the industry.
Music Health Alliance’s work also includes providing mental health counseling, dental care, and senior care through various funds. All services are provided at no cost to the client.
Success Stories and Impact
Tatum shares powerful stories of how Music Health Alliance has transformed lives. One story involved a musician who suffered a heart attack while on the road. Without health insurance, he faced overwhelming medical bills. Music Health Alliance stepped in, negotiated the bills down, and got him the rehabilitation he needed to return to performing.
Another major initiative is Heal the Music Day, an annual fundraiser started by Rodney Crowell. Held on the third Friday of October, the event encourages the music industry to donate a portion of their earnings from that day to Music Health Alliance. The fundraiser has grown significantly and raised $400,000 in 2022 alone, allowing the organization to continue its critical work.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
While Music Health Alliance has grown, Tatum admits that funding is a constant challenge. The organization operates on a $2.4 million budget, raised through individual donations, grants, and corporate gifts. Despite the challenges, Tatum remains optimistic, saying that every year they’ve managed to raise enough to keep the lights on and continue saving lives.
She emphasizes the need for healthcare reform, pointing out that the U.S. healthcare system often leaves individuals in impossible situations. While she believes in advocating for change, her focus remains on helping individuals in the music industry one case at a time.
Conclusion
Tatum Allsep’s work with Music Health Alliance is nothing short of miraculous. By providing healthcare advocacy and support to those in the music industry, she has helped countless individuals navigate complex medical challenges. Her personal story, combined with her passion for healthcare reform, makes her a true force for good in an industry that often leaves its workers behind when it comes to medical care.
For those in the music industry, Music Health Alliance offers a lifeline. For fans and supporters, it provides an opportunity to give back to the artists who create the music we love. As Tatum says, healthcare should be a right, not a privilege, and Music Health Alliance is working tirelessly to make that vision a reality.
Be sure to check out Music Health Alliance and learn more about how you can support their mission through donations or participation in Heal the Music Day.
