Austin’s famed live‑music scene is getting a boost from a home‑grown nonprofit. The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) now subsidizes health‑insurance premiums for over 3,300 local artists, many of whom earn around $30,000 a year.
How the program works
HAAM partners with Central Health, Travis County’s public hospital district, to cover the balance of monthly premiums for members who enroll in Sendero Health Plans’ silver‑level marketplace options. When a musician’s income falls between one and two times the federal poverty level, Central Health pays the remaining premium after federal tax credits are applied. For those earning above that range, HAAM contributes 50 percent of the premium balance.
Since HAAM began offering direct premium assistance, membership has grown 77 percent. More than 90 percent of members now have health coverage, a dramatic improvement from the roughly 85 percent who were uninsured before the Affordable Care Act marketplace launched in 2014.
Local impact and broader relevance
Musicians like Zack Morgan, who lost his corporate job in 2015, say the subsidy is essential. “That’s part of being able to make this whole thing work,” Morgan explained, noting that without help he would have faced a third of his income in health costs.
HAAM’s model is attracting attention from other music‑centric cities. Similar nonprofits in Seattle, New Orleans and Nashville help artists navigate enrollment, but HAAM is among the few that actually pitch in on premiums, offering a tangible safety net for low‑income creators.
Challenges ahead
The 2026 plan year saw premium increases of 58 percent on average, and the expiration of pandemic‑era enhanced premium tax credits left many marketplace shoppers paying more out of pocket. HAAM stepped up fundraising, yet still had to turn away hundreds of qualified applicants.
Beyond musicians, the nonprofit’s work highlights a larger gap in Texas health policy. The state has not expanded Medicaid, leaving the poorest residents—those earning under $15,000 a year—without affordable coverage. While Central Health’s Medical Access Program offers limited care to the uninsured, HAAM officials acknowledge it is not a substitute for full Medicaid expansion.
Community support and future plans
Central Health’s vice president of operations, Kit Abney Spelce, emphasized the importance of trusted community partners. “We are very much dependent on our partner entity to go out and connect with the community, to have that relationship and that trust,” she said.
HAAM hopes its success will inspire additional collaborations, such as the 2025 pilot with Good Work Austin that extended premium assistance to local food‑service workers. By keeping artists and other low‑wage workers insured, the program not only safeguards individual health but also preserves the cultural and economic vitality that makes Austin a national destination for live music.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
