Healthcare Access Gaps Persist in East and Southeast Austin, New Community Health Assessment Finds
Despite being home to nationally recognized hospitals and medical institutions, Austin continues to face significant healthcare access gaps, particularly in East and Southeast Austin and among uninsured and underinsured residents, according to the newly released 2025 Austin-Travis County Community Health Assessment.
Published by Austin Public Health, the assessment provides a data-driven snapshot of how health outcomes are shaped not only by medical care, but by where people live, how they get around, and whether they can afford coverage at all. The findings are intended to guide public health priorities across Austin and Travis County in the coming years.
“These assessments are essential to identifying needs in our community and how best to address them,” Austin City Manager TC Broadnax said. “With this data, our City staff will be better equipped to efficiently address health inequities across Austin and Travis County.”
Where Healthcare Access Breaks Down
The assessment shows that healthcare access is uneven across the city, even as Austin continues to grow and attract new residents. In some eastern and southeastern census tracts, more than 40 percent of residents are uninsured, creating barriers to preventive care, chronic disease management, and early intervention
Residents in these areas face compounding challenges, including:
- Limited availability of nearby primary care providers
- Transportation barriers that make appointments difficult to reach
- Rising healthcare costs, even for those with insurance
- Fewer culturally responsive care options
While Travis County’s overall uninsured rate is lower than the Texas average, the assessment makes clear that aggregate numbers mask neighborhood-level realities, particularly for communities of color and low-income households.
Insurance Coverage Remains a Key Barrier
According to the assessment, Hispanic, Black, and immigrant communities experience disproportionately high uninsured rates, reflecting broader structural inequities tied to employment, income, and eligibility for public insurance programs.
Even residents who are insured often report difficulty navigating the healthcare system. Community feedback collected during the assessment process highlighted frustration with complex enrollment systems, long wait times, and frequent coverage disruptions, especially following pandemic-era Medicaid disenrollments.
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These coverage gaps can lead to delayed diagnoses, untreated conditions, and reliance on emergency care — outcomes that ultimately strain both families and the healthcare system as a whole.
Provider Shortages and Transportation Challenges
The assessment also points to provider availability and geography as ongoing concerns. While Austin benefits from a strong concentration of medical institutions near the urban core, access becomes more limited farther east and south.
Travis County has fewer primary care physicians per capita than both the state and national averages, creating bottlenecks for routine care and increasing reliance on urgent or emergency services.
Transportation limitations further complicate access, particularly for residents without reliable vehicles or convenient public transit options.
Healthcare Access Is Tied to Housing, Food, and Stability
The assessment emphasizes that healthcare access cannot be separated from other social determinants of health, including housing stability, food security, and economic pressure.
Residents experiencing housing instability or food insecurity are more likely to delay care, skip medications, or forgo preventive services altogether. These challenges are especially pronounced in areas that have experienced historical underinvestment.
“The needs of our community continue to evolve as we see rising issues with opioids, stress and just finding healthy food to eat,” said Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority. “We take pride in our staff being flexible to meet these challenges and continue to make Austin a healthier place to live.”
A Collaborative Path Forward
The Community Health Assessment is a cornerstone of the Austin/Travis County Community Health Plan and plays a critical role in Austin Public Health’s national re-accreditation process through the Public Health Accreditation Board.
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The effort was made possible through collaboration with healthcare systems, universities, transportation agencies, and community partners, including Central Health, Capital Metro, Dell Medical School, Ascension, Baylor Scott & White Health, Integral Care, and St. David’s Foundation, among others.
“These assessments give us a clear call to action — honest data and community voice to confront persistent inequities and advance a healthier Austin Travis County for all,” said Austin Public Health Director Adrienne Sturrup. “We are grateful to residents and partners who shared their experiences, reminding us that community health is shaped by opportunity and the systems we collectively build.”
Why This Matters for Austin Residents
As Austin continues to grow, the assessment underscores a critical reality: health outcomes are shaped long before a doctor’s visit. Access to care depends on affordability, proximity, transportation, and trust — all of which vary widely across neighborhoods.
Addressing healthcare access gaps in East and Southeast Austin will require coordinated investments across healthcare, housing, transportation, and community-based services. The data now provides a roadmap — but progress will depend on sustained collaboration and accountability.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed as Austin Public Health and its partners move from assessment to action.
Stay tuned with My Neighborhood News for continued coverage of health, infrastructure, and equity issues impacting Austin neighborhoods.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.