A Breaking Point That Led to Healing
January 30, 2026
With MAP coverage from Central Health, Christopher Luna was able to access surgery, recovery, and a path forward
Christopher Luna once accepted the daily pain that accompanied his life. He believed, at first, that it was a part of getting older, that he could tough it out. The sharp abdominal pains and the odd medical symptoms didn’t go away, though.
After years of starts and stops at hospitals with few answers, he knew things needed to change.
“I was big-headed and pushed it aside,” said Luna, 41, a lifelong resident of Austin. “Then I finally decided I needed help.”
That’s where Central Health and the Medical Access Program (MAP) came in. MAP provides health coverage for uninsured Travis County residents with low income and no access to other health coverage.
Luna took the initiative to apply for MAP in the middle of 2024 and was quickly enrolled in the health coverage program.
He wouldn’t realize until a year later, however, just how valuable that coverage was, at a time when he would need it most.
Whole Person Support During a Crucial Moment
For more than a decade, Luna lived with diverticulitis, a condition where pouches in the lower part of the colon become inflamed, sending Luna to the hospital for a stay of several days. But in early November, the father of seven faced an acute pain that felt different.
He rushed to the ER at Ascension Seton Medical Center.
Luna soon learned his condition—which compounded into a fistula formation, a sometimes-rare complication of diverticulitis—would require surgery.
While the procedure was scheduled within the month, it wouldn’t be a simple surgery, with the procedure taking seven hours after surgeons found two cysts on his bladder. The operation put Luna on the road to recovery.
Better yet, though, was the peace of mind that came from MAP. Luna’s coverage meant his health care costs were minimal.
Apply for health coverage through MAP
If you live in Travis County and are uninsured, we can help you get access to local doctors, specialists, and pharmacies through MAP (Medical Access Program) or MAP Basic by Central Health, or through one of our health care partners.
“They took care of it,” he said of Central Health’s health care coverage option.
Central Health stepped in to ensure he had the right care at the right time. MAP ensures public funds are spent efficiently on prevention rather than wastefully on crisis management.
In Luna’s case, having his health care covered by MAP means he will be better able to manage his diverticulitis, reducing or even eliminating the need for future visits to the ER.
And that central truth might just change his life.
Looking Ahead
Post-surgery, things are already looking up for Luna.
“I think it’s going to be better for my life,” he said. “It will help me.”
Luna knows recovery is a long road that takes hard work. More than a few months later, he says he’s not 100%.
“I’m trying to trust the process,” he said. “(This condition) took a big toll on my life.”
His next goals, he says, are on the road ahead. In the meantime, he is spending time with his family and figuring out the next phase of his life.
“I’m just looking to get back on my feet,” he said, “and getting my career started again.”
