San Antonians living with diabetes just got a serious break at the pharmacy counter. On Friday, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District and H‑E‑B officially relaunched the Diabetes Insulin Assistance Program, which offers up to $100 per insulin prescription, including refills, for eligible residents of San Antonio and Bexar County.
The rules are intentionally simple. There is no requirement to show proof of income, insurance, or citizenship, and the benefit will stay in place only as long as the city’s funding holds out. To get started, residents have their doctor send an insulin prescription to a participating H‑E‑B pharmacy, then complete a short consent form.
“Access to insulin is critical for individuals living with diabetes,” Metro Health Director Dr. Claude A. Jacob said in a news release from City of San Antonio. The release notes that participants will be connected with Metro Health’s no‑cost diabetes education workshops, though there is no requirement to attend. The city directs anyone with questions to SA.gov/Health or to call 3‑1‑1 for more information.
How the program works
Using the benefit is meant to be low‑friction. Ask your doctor to send your insulin prescription to a participating H‑E‑B pharmacy, then fill out the consent form online or at the pharmacy, according to KSAT.
That consent allows Metro Health to use your contact information to offer free diabetes workshops later on, while still preserving the subsidy for anyone who is not interested in education. A list of participating pharmacies and an interactive map are available on the city’s ArcGIS dashboard.
Who’s eligible and what it covers
San Antonio and Bexar County residents who say they are having trouble affording insulin qualify for the program, regardless of insurance status or citizenship, local reporting found. The city piloted the subsidy in 2024 and initially set aside about $100,000 for the first year and another $100,000 for 2025, San Antonio Report reported. Metro Health says the relaunched benefit will stay available while that funding lasts.
Why it matters
San Antonio carries a heavy local burden of diabetes and prediabetes, and advocates point out that programs like this can ease the immediate pressure on families stuck choosing between medication and other essentials. The relaunch pairs short‑term cost relief with optional education resources aimed at helping residents manage diabetes over the long haul and avoid emergency care where possible.
For more details on eligibility and how to sign up, visit SA.gov/Health or call 3‑1‑1.
