“Take care of the people who care for people.”

Byron Sanders
CEO and Founder
Arete Health, Inc.
…announcing Creatives Care Dallas on LinkedIn

Dallas has become the first place in the nation where local gig workers and artists can access a new health and wellness program for $65 a month.

“This week we get to announce something that will be transformational for creatives working in Dallas,” Sanders wrote on LinkedIn.

Sanders, CEO of Arete Health, unveiled Creatives Care Dallas, a new program powered by Arete Health Shield. It covers creative professionals in Dallas County doing contract, 1099, or freelance work.

That $65 doesn’t just cover the artist. It extends to four additional people, Sanders noted in his post.

According to the Visit Dallas website, the membership package includes 24/7 virtual primary care, telemedicine urgent care, virtual behavioral health services (eight sessions per Sanders’ post), and zero copay on more than 2,000 medications. Members also get DNA assessments and 15%–50% discounts on dental, vision, and medical procedures.

“It makes preventive care and mental health resources affordable and accessible—designed for creative lifestyles,” per the website.

Dallas County’s creative professionals—musicians, artists, filmmakers, designers, and others working project to project—often can’t access basic healthcare. Participants can enroll whether or not they currently have health insurance, according to Sanders.

When spoken-word artist and rapper Adam Tench, known as Rage Almighty, died in 2019, it shook the creative community. Tench’s lack of access to health insurance spurred the Arete Health CEO to act, pointing to his death from “treatable medical circumstances,” Sanders said on KERA. “That struck me as profoundly unfair.”

On LinkedIn, Sanders wrote, “Dallas lost a singular voice in the spoken word community … this program was built from the inspiration of what it could mean if we had healthcare that could support artists like him who enrich all of us.”

He also gave a shoutout to Dallas Music Office Director Kristina Kirkenaer-Hart: “Sister, love your vision and your tenacity for this artist community.”

Visit Dallas and the Dallas Music Office note they’re community partners, not healthcare providers. All enrollment and care are managed directly by Arete Health Shield.

To learn more about the program, go here.

The unveiling of Creatives Care Dallas was first reported on kxt.org in September.

For more of who said what about all things North Texas, check out Every Last Word.

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