Today is Kentucky Gives Day, a chance to support The Asclepius Initiative’s work focused on building a future where health care coverage is stable, affordable, and not dependent on life circumstances.



At TAI, we believe health care is a right, not a luxury. We believe every person deserves continuous health care coverage from birth until death. Where someone lives or works, or how much they earn, should not determine whether they have access to care. Health care decisions should be made between patients and their providers, and affordable, high-quality care should be within reach for everyone.

Across Kentucky, rising health care costs are changing how people access care. Premiums continue to increase, but they represent only part of the cost. Many plans require thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket spending before coverage begins to pay, leaving individuals and families responsible for high costs even when they are insured. For some, these expenses are too high to manage. More people are choosing to go without coverage altogether, while others delay care, skip medications, or take on debt to afford treatment.

These challenges are seen in TAI’s research findings. In our 2024 survey of Kentuckians, 55% adults with health insurance reported delaying or going without care or medications due to cost. In 2025 interviews conducted across the state, many Kentuckians described being unable to afford doctor visits, treatment, or follow-up care despite having coverage. These experiences reinforce a central issue: having coverage does not always mean being able to use it.

The current system often leaves people in a vulnerable position. The lived experiences of Kentuckians informs TAI’s work to build support for a system where everyone can get the care they need. This is not an unrealistic aspiration – our other peer high-income countries have systems in place that provide universal coverage, and they produce better outcomes at lower cost than in the U.S.

In the meantime, TAI is providing useful, practical information about how coverage works with the current system. With support from the Kentucky Department for Public Health, TAI has reached more than 19,000 Kentuckians through community partnerships and presentations. A growing collection of resources is available for free on TAI’s website, offering straightforward information on how to get coverage, how to use it, and understand benefits and billing. This work helps people make more informed decisions today.

On Kentucky Gives Day, your support helps make this work possible. Donations help us to expand access to trusted information, strengthen community partnerships, and continue our research and education efforts across the state.

Make a donation to The Asclepius Initiative today and be part of the effort to create a future where health care coverage is continuous and accessible for everyone.

Health Care Coverage Literacy Spotlight

Using health care coverage is almost never straightforward. Even for people who have insurance, things like deductibles, copays, coinsurance, networks, and pre-authorization policies affect what care costs and where, or whether, it can be received. These details can be difficult to navigate, especially when care is needed most.



To help address this challenge, TAI has created a webinar that walks through how health care coverage works in the U.S. The session explains key concepts like premiums, cost-sharing, and provider networks, and shows how these factors shape both access to care and total costs. It also uses a step-by-step example to demonstrate how medical charges are processed, helping to connect definitions to real-world practice.

Health care costs are a significant expense for many people. The good news is that sometimes there are ways to lower those costs.



Even with coverage, expenses like deductibles, copays, and coinsurance can add up quickly. When they are available, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) can help offset these costs. These programs allow people to set aside or use pre-tax dollars for eligible health care expenses, which can help reduce overall spending.

TAI has created a resource that explains how HSAs, FSAs, and HRAs work and how they can be used to pay for eligible health care expenses. This web-based content outlines the key differences between these programs, including who can use the different types of programs under what circumstances, who can contribute to the accounts, and what types of expenses are eligible.

Out-of-pocket costs can be a barrier to care, even for those who have coverage. For individuals and families who have access to them, HSAs, FSAs, and HRAs can help make these costs more manageable.

Have more questions about health care coverage? Click here to explore TAI’s free educational resources.

Follow The Asclepius Initiative on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and BlueSky to stay informed about developments in health care coverage, education, and reform. We share tips to help you navigate your health care coverage, updates on our work, and opportunities to get involved in creating a healthier future for Kentuckians. Don’t miss out – connect with us today!

The Asclepius Initiative is part of Kroger’s Community Rewards program. Select TAI as the charity of choice and a portion of your receipt will be donated to TAI each time your Kroger Plus Card is used. Signing up is quick and only has to be done once.

1. Go to KrogerCommunityRewards.com

2. Sign into using current login information or the number on the back of the card

3. Select TAI as the organization: search for us by name or by using our code, DG163

Help us continue to provide you with relevant and up-to-date health care coverage information.