Cheap care at Alamo Colleges

Alamo Colleges students will now have access to primary health care at little to no cost through a partnership with UT Health San Antonio.

At least one-third of all the students attending the system’s five community colleges in San Antonio don’t have health insurance — a major barrier to education that Chancellor Mike Flores saw when he served as president of Palo Alto College.

“Our students don’t stop out because of academics, they stop out because they have other needs outside of the classroom,” Flores said, referring to students who leave college before completing their education. “We want them to cross the finish line and earn their certificate or degree.” Under the partnership, UT Health San Antonio’s nursing school will offer telemedicine visits for minor illnesses including colds, headaches, allergies and infections through the Wellness 360 primary care practice.

The co-pay will be just $5 per visit but those who cannot afford it won’t be turned away, officials said.

Eventually, the program could offer full services including well-woman exams, vaccines and STD testing, said Cindy Sickora, UT Health San Antonio’s vice dean of practice and engagement for the School of Nursing.

Students with more serious medical issues will be referred to low-cost local providers and those with financial need may qualify for student impact funds that would cover the cost of treatment. Campuses are closed to in-person instruction because of the coronavirus pandemic. But Flores said about 66,000 students are attending virtual classes at the system’s five colleges.

Once campuses reopen, students will have access to in-person medical appointments at Palo Alto College and San Antonio College downtown, officials said.

Advocacy Centers set up throughout the district connect students with emergency assistance for rent, utilities and a clothes closet through a helpline operated by the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County. Students in need also have access to a pantry stocked by the San Antonio Food Bank.