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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dire Bare" data-source="post: 7826522" data-attributes="member: 18182">It's not a problem limited to game designers, yes, and many folks regardless of profession struggle under the US healthcare system, but it is a particular problem for those who work independently and don't hold regular jobs, which includes most artists. If you don't have a health plan through work, and you aren't putting away for retirement, you can find yourself in a very bad situation when you're older.This has been happening to aging scifi authors also, with similar calls for crowdfunded help to cover medical expenses. I'm sure it happens in many creative fields. What brings it to our attention is that these folks are famous and well-respected in their fields, we are shocked to learn they are penniless and facing signficant healthcare issues in their golden years. It seems wrong, and it is (although not really more wrong than others who suffer).When you are a young, struggling artist in your 20s . . . you aren't making much, you have no benefits, you are putting away for retirement, but you might be making more money than you ever have before and you're getting paid for your art! It's a awesome rush and it's easy to push future problems to deal with later. As you continue into your 30s, 40s, and maybe even 50s, you've gotten into some bad habits and suddenly you are in your 60s facing serious healthcare and/or living issues with no benefits or savings to cover them. Our country's healthcare system exasperates the problem, but it is also a problem often stemming from choices we made when we were young.People who choose to go into the creative fields really need to consider these issues and ask themselves, "Do I really need to work full-time as an independent game designer?" Having a more mundane "day job" with benefits (health and 401k) is probably the wiser long-term choice. I'm a teacher, and I explore my creative side nights, weekends, and over that summer break. It's hard to focus on my creative endeavors, but I have a good health plan and retirement plan, and it's a good balance for me. God help me if I ever sell a novel or something and feel that temptation to ditch the day job and go full-time writing.</blockquote>

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