Austin nonprofits help musicians afford healthcare
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In Austin, Texas, the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) and Central Health are working together to provide affordable health insurance to local musicians.
HAAM subsidizes monthly insurance premiums for musicians who purchase plans through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Central Health, a public agency, funds the roughly $4 million program that supports low-income residents of Austin and Travis County.
After a decade of operation, this assistance program became crucial when pandemic-era subsidies expired in 2024, causing premiums to rise sharply for many. HAAM helped offset these increases for its over 3,300 members, and membership has grown by 77% since the premium assistance began. To qualify, musicians enroll in Sendero Health Plans, and Central Health covers remaining premiums for those earning between one and two times the federal poverty level. Other cities are taking note of HAAM’s success.
Denton, Texas, has a similar program offering smaller monthly subsidies. Good Work Austin launched a pilot program in 2025 to assist restaurant workers with insurance costs. While HAAM’s model has proven effective, it doesn’t reach the poorest residents of Austin, as Texas has not expanded Medicaid, leaving those earning less than $15,000 annually without access to affordable coverage through the ACA marketplace.
