$500k St. David’s Foundation grant supports our efforts to provide insurance assistance and accessibility
AUSTIN, Texas—Texas Health Action’s Kind Clinic was recently awarded a $500,000 grant from St. David’s Foundation to expand access to health insurance coverage in Central Texas, with a focus on uninsured and underinsured LGBTQIA+ people and people impacted by HIV. The grant will support Kind Clinic’s Kind Patient Assistance Program (KPAP) in its fifth year of helping patients enroll in health coverage during Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment, beginning November 1. KPAP also helps patients navigate coverage for laboratory services, HIV prevention medication including PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), and HIV care.
The funding comes as Texas Health Action sees national changes to healthcare policy playing out locally, increasing the importance of programs that help patients navigate coverage and manage the costs of care.
“As healthcare costs continue to rise and changes to federal policy make it harder for people to afford and maintain coverage, programs like KPAP are more important than ever,” Christopher Hamilton, CEO of Texas Health Action, said. “This support from St. David’s Foundation will help us connect more patients to health insurance while providing ongoing assistance with premiums, medications and lab costs. We are grateful to St. David’s Foundation for investing in solutions that help remove financial barriers to care and ensure more people can access the healthcare they need.”
In 2025 alone, nearly 900 patients served by Texas Health Action’s programs received assistance, totaling close to $600,000 in premium payments. Texas Health Action reported that, in the same year, approximately 60% of Kind Clinic patients were uninsured, more than twice the statewide uninsured rate at the time, underscoring the need for continued efforts to expand access to health insurance coverage. Texas Health Action aims to reduce this percentage to better align with statewide trends.
“We hear from patients every day who are worried about how they’re going to afford the care they need. Having insurance can make a real difference, but costs like premiums, medications and lab work can still add up quickly,” Juan Benitez, Chief Advancement Officer of Texas Health Action, said. “We’re grateful to St. David’s Foundation for recognizing that need and investing in solutions that help make healthcare more affordable and accessible for the communities we serve.”
Texas Health Action’s Central Texas HIV & STI Testing and Treatment Trends Report explains that rising uninsured rates, higher healthcare costs and the expiration of enhanced ACA subsidies are expected to put additional strain on access to care. National enrollment data released this summer shows ACA Marketplace enrollment has declined following the expiration of enhanced premium subsidies in December 2025. Texas alone has seen a 4% decrease in marketplace enrollment compared to last year.
Texas Health Action continues to help uninsured patients secure health insurance coverage, connecting them to the care and medications they need.
