The SIMS Foundation is aiming to raise $150,000 by the end of the year to offset the increased health care cost with the loss of Affordable Care Act tax credits.
AUSTIN, Texas — As millions of Americans brace to pay more for health insurance as Affordable Care Act tax credits expire at the end of the year, some nonprofits in Austin want to make sure local musicians are still covered.
On Tuesday, the SIMS Foundation launched its Restore The Rhythm campaign with a goal of raising $150,000 by the end of the year.
Derrick Lesnau, the CEO of the SIMS Foundation, said some studies have shown more than 40% of Texans will be significantly impacted by these federal changes, and more people will need to get care through private pay instead of their insurance.
“People are are starting to really turn to us for more assistance,” Lesnau said. “We have seen an increase in demand. There are so many changes going on, there’s so much uncertainty right now.”
Their biggest hope with the campaign is to make sure there’s no disruption to their musicians’ health care services.
“It’s incredibly important to focus on the consistency of someone’s mental health,” Lesnau said. “Mental health is that first domino, the first line of defense for physical health. If mental health challenges aren’t addressed, those anxiety and depression and symptoms can turn into physical manifestations of that mental health challenge.”
The SIMS Foundation provides support for local musicians through three service areas: mental health counseling, psychiatric medication management and recovery with substance use disorder services.
Courtney Santana, a local Austin musician, said as a creative, it can be difficult to pay for the care she needs to stay healthy.
“I think that we make enough money to live, but our quality of life is dictated by our health,” Santana said. “It’s really important to have health care; it’s really important to have mental health assistance when you need it.”
She said that consistency of mental health services is life changing for musicians, so she hopes organizations like the SIMS Foundation keep doing what they’re doing.
“We rise with progressive and innovative solutions to problems – I think Austin is great about doing that for musicians,” Santana said. “If we can keep that heartbeat in Austin and keep that blood flowing through those communities, that would be great.”
If you want to get involved with the SIMS Foundation’s new campaign, you can make a donation on its website.
The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians is also actively fundraising through the end of the year to help offset the increased cost of insurance premiums. Every dollar donated to the organization is leverage into $7 worth of health care costs, thanks to its partners. At this time of uncertainty, the organization also wants to remind its musicians it will continue to have their backs as organizers work to keep music in Austin alive and well.