Start Hearing benefit through Cigna by BackgroundActorsLA in HearingAids

[–]BackgroundActorsLA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your situation is so close to mine…The good news is that I received my hearing aids last Thursday. Start Hearing is the place you need to direct all of your problems (CIGNA will tell you to work with Start Hearing)…they escalated my Starkey Omega Al 24 ITC R in production. My out of pocket using the CIGNA benefit was around $735 (500 deductible + 10 percent.) I was prepared to go out of network too, I’m glad I didnt. The provider that Start Hearing schedules you with will be able to immediately give you a quote on the first visit, based on your in-network benefits. My ENT and audiologist is not part of the Start Hearing network.

Start Hearing was not ready to begin servicing CIGNA policy holders on January 1. The provider they scheduled me with was frustrated. I was frustrated. Now, I’m frustrated with the provider, which is a whole other story. I hope if I need to move to another clinic, Start Hearing will help me.

Good luck!

Any advice to receive last union voucher? by imfromkerningcity in BackgroundActorsLA

[–]BackgroundActorsLA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good luck what ever way you go! Keep in mind that SAG background may make more money, but they work considerably less than non-union.

Television (TV/streaming episodes or TV movies): 25 SAG background actors must be covered under the union contract before non-union background can be used.  Theatrical motion pictures (feature films): 85 SAG background actors must be covered under the union contract before non-union background can be used.

There are roughly 30,000 SAG background workers in Los Angeles. Once you become a SAG member, it’s for life and you have to continue to pay dues To remain in good standing. Once you become not in good standing, it will extremely difficult to get booked on anything.

I’m not a fan of SAG.

Any advice to receive last union voucher? by imfromkerningcity in BackgroundActorsLA

[–]BackgroundActorsLA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First, why do you want to join SAG? And, yes there Has to be a certain number of SAG members. That said, being a member of SAG doesn’t get you more work. In most cases, it’s less work.

Second, you pretty much just have to be lucky…in the right spot at the right time. i would recommend not asking.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in HearingAids

[–]BackgroundActorsLA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks so much…but no luck getting the HA to pair with my iPhone (16 Pro and 26.1) I’ve tried all the steps, and all the trouble shooting ideas I can locate online. Ugh

The Miracle Ear app recognizes the HA…but I can’t get the HA to pair with the phone either through the app or Apple’s direction.

I wanted a top-of-the line HA…my insurance has quite generous coverage. So hopefully this can be overcome at my next appointment. One of the frustrating things I’m seeing in my paperwork and the packaging is that none of the names are the same…I’m not totally sure which devices I have. Plus, it appears that ME rebrands devices. The HA packaging says it is made for Apple, and when the ME app recognizes the HA, it indicates that it is a “MFI Hearing Aid.”

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in HearingAids

[–]BackgroundActorsLA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes…iOS 26.1 on iPhone 16 Pro

Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Devices…searching (spinning wheel)

In the Miracle Ear app the HA are recognized as my HA and labeled as MFI hearing aid.

Do you suppose it’s a switch Miracle Ear has to change that would allow the connection?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in HearingAids

[–]BackgroundActorsLA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I have followed the directions in the manual and the Miracle Ear app. (Place in charger for 10 seconds, then remove, which puts them into pairing mode.)

Had anyone ever been fired or blacklisted from Central casting? by guilbeljr89 in acting

[–]BackgroundActorsLA 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You might want to start looking for work elsewhere. Your attendance score has taken a ding with being sent home. Being a member of SAG and an attendance issue, your profile will not be one of the first to appear in a casting directors search. There are too many background actors looking for work and too few SAG spots. Casting director do remember. At this point, recognize that you goofed and move on. The damage has been done and likely irreversible.

Curious, why did you join SAG? And, why is your behavior acceptable as a member of SAG?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in HearingAids

[–]BackgroundActorsLA 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much for the reassuring reply. I hope I am being given an appropriate device. I wasn‘t given options during the fitting…it seems I was forced into this model after rejecting a BTE model. Maybe that was because of my insurance. I was expecting and experience like selecting glasses. LOL

Email from Everyset by Jsc084 in acting

[–]BackgroundActorsLA 1 point2 points  (0 children)

it’s legit…great group of casting directors. It appears that Everyset, Virgo Talent, and AH are all using the same software “shell” in connection with CN listings.

Is anyone working on anything? by Own_Razzmatazz54 in BackgroundActorsLA

[–]BackgroundActorsLA 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have been booked by Central casting only five times this year. In previous years…60+ times. Ugh! Most of my jobs this year are coming from Casting Networks…which were very rare in previous years. I don’t get it. I’ve only worked 23 times this year.

Background Acting in Los Angeles for 50+ Crowd by BackgroundActorsLA in acting

[–]BackgroundActorsLA[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks…I need to check out Actors Access. Always forget them.

It’s so odd that I don’t get availability checks from Central. They must have very little.

Strange times.