Aflac’s commitment to closing the medical debt gap
CareGrants are awarded to community organizations that work to improve medical outcomes for people with high exposure to medical debt. Since the program’s inception in 2022, Aflac has given more than $2 million in CareGrants with additional contributions planned going forward.
See how Aflac is helping close gaps in your community
Since October 2021, Aflac has worked to gain a deeper understanding of the issue of medical debt, digest its impact on insured Americans and support those who are most affected.
To support these highly vulnerable regions, Aflac awards Community CareGrants to select organizations that help improve the medical outcomes in their communities. By the end of 2024, it will have contributed $2.6 million to the cause.
Community CareGrant Recipient
Consumer CareGrant Recipient
Lexington, VA
Rockbridge Area Health Center was awarded a $100,000 Aflac Community CareGrant to reduce the risk of medical debt exposure and help fund school-based wellness education and multidisciplinary programs in Lexington, Virginia. An Aflac Park Bench was installed in Kids Playce Park, a symbol of the Lexington-Rockbridge community, which features picnic tables and water fountains.
Harlan, KY
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) received a $100,000 Aflac Community CareGrant to help reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in Harlan County, Kentucky. The grant was used to help ARH expand its educational outreach program, as well as purchase cardiovascular screening supplies and equipment, mannequins for use in community CPR education, and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for the community’s emergency management personnel. An Aflac Park Bench was installed in Dressen Park, a central public space used by many Harlan residents for rest and relaxation.
Columbia, SC
Aflac awarded a $100,000 CareGrant to Good Samaritan Clinic in Columbia, South Carolina, to help the organization develop a healthcare e-portal to reduce patients’ barriers to care, expand its point of care capacity, enable new hires and fund resources to help existing staff build and maintain patient relationships. An Aflac Park Bench was installed in Riverfront Park at the entrance to the beloved Columbia Canal and its many outdoor walking paths.
Orlando, FL
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Libby’s Legacy Breast Cancer Foundation received a $100,000 Aflac Community CareGrant to increase access to breast health services, such as diagnostic testing (mammograms) and biopsies for underserved and underinsured individuals in Orlando, Florida. An Aflac Park Bench was installed on the grounds of the organization, where patients and survivors can go to relax and reflect.
Houston, TX
Aflac awarded its first $200,000 Community CareGrant to Texas Southern University’s (TSU) Center for Biomedical and Minority Health Research to help advance health equity for diseases that disproportionately impact underrepresented communities. The grant was split between community support, education and health-related research. An Aflac Park Bench was installed in the heart of TSU’s campus, where TSU students, faculty, staff and supporters can find peace and comfort for years to come.
Gary, IN
Community HealthNet received a $100,000 Aflac Community CareGrant to help develop a community farm, provide oral health services for the uninsured, purchase life-saving vaccines and medications for underserved populations, and hire new staff to build and maintain patient relationships. An Aflac Park Bench was installed in Lake Etta County Park, a 112-acre park with access to the Little Calumet River, as well as playgrounds, fishing, and a beach area for swimming.
Charleston, WV
West Virginia Health Right received a $100,000 Aflac Community CareGrant to advance grassroots initiatives such as purchasing medication for low-income adults in the area, purchasing medical supplies and consumables, and offsetting salaries for the organization’s part-time in-house registered dietician and RN health educator. An Aflac Park bench was installed in Magic Island Park, a five-acre riverside park that is cherished by the local community and offers a walking trail, beach volleyball courts and a splash pad.
Cleveland, OH
Aflac awarded a $100,000 CareGrant to Care Alliance Health Center in Cleveland, Ohio, to advance its mission of providing high-quality, comprehensive medical and dental care, patient advocacy and related services to people who need them most. The grant helped the organization reach an additional 10,000 Cleveland residents by supporting its expansion as a federally qualified health center to serve more vulnerable individuals. It also supported other work focused on community public health needs to address the economic impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. An Aflac park bench was also installed at Lincoln Park, an eight-acre public green space that hosts community get-togethers, team sports and recreational activities.
New York, NY
Hip Hop Public Health, co-founded by hip-hop artist Doug E. Fresh, received a $100,000 Aflac CareGrant to advance health literacy in Harlem, New York. The organization will put the funds toward advancing its various programs including its Learning Studio that inspires positive changes in health behavior, the Health MC Educator Program, which offers curricular resources around health education and its speaker series, which explores public health issues. At the CareGrant celebration event, attendees participated in a community mural activity led by a local artist that reflected the lived experiences of the community in honor of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary.
Orangeburg, SC
Aflac presented its largest CareGrant of 2023 to South Carolina State University (SC State), South Carolina’s only public historically black university, to advance its work to improve health outcomes and build the next generation of diverse community health workers. The $200,000 CareGrant was split between two centers – the Health Equity Research and Training Center and the South Carolina Cancer Disparities Research Center – to fund research and training programs for better health results and experiences for the South Carolina community. An Aflac park bench was installed on SC State’s campus in a central area where students and other university stakeholders can find rest and relaxation for years to come.
Milledgeville, GA
Aflac presented a $100,000 Aflac CareGrant to the Georgia College & State University’s College of Health Sciences—the first of its kind in the state of Georgia. The donation will support the implementation of healthcare services and educational opportunities. In addition, an Aflac Park Bench was installed in front of the Health Sciences and Parks Memorial Building near the corner of Montgomery Street and Wilkinson Street. A central location with high foot traffic on GCSU’s campus, the park bench will also be a place where students and other university stakeholders can find rest and reflection.