Do you have no insurance or can’t afford health care for various reasons? Fortunately, there are free and low-cost health clinics. But thanks to community health centers and free clinics across the country, you can access affordable health care. These free and low-cost clinics provide a variety of medical services. These sliding-fee clinics provide a variety of care to the uninsured and underinsured. Depending on the clinic, you may be able to access everything from dental care to birth control. Even if you don’t have insurance, there are likely to be several health care facilities available to you.
get our free clinic guide to refer to later.
How do I find a free or low-cost health clinic near me?
if you don’t qualify for medicaid or chip and can’t afford health insurance, you can still get health care. By visiting a free or low-cost health clinic in your community, you can get basic medical care.
Your first choice is community health centers. Sometimes called Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), these are government-run clinics that offer services on a sliding scale. sometimes this even means care is free. These FQHCs include community health centers, migrant health centers, county health departments, and homeless shelter health centers. they exist so that those who are uninsured and otherwise unable to access care have a place to go. In an FQHC, what you pay will be based on your income level.
You can search here to find a community health center near you.
There are also free clinics in many communities, independent providers that exist outside of the government’s safety net to serve those who don’t have access to free health care. Here, doctors and others volunteer their time and services to run these clinics. These types of clinics also often use a sliding scale for payment. this means that some people may pay nothing for care, while others may pay a nominal fee based on what they can afford.
You can search here to find a free clinic in your community.
Before you go to a free clinic, find out if you qualify for free or low-cost health insurance; You may qualify for Medicaid or a Subsidized Marketplace plan (also known as Obamacare) based on your income. 94% of people qualify for a subsidy at healthsherpa. enter your zip code to see plans and prices.
Are free clinics really free?
Some independent, volunteer-run free clinics are actually free. however, most “free clinics” and all fqhcs operate using a sliding fee scale. therefore, they will be free to use for some. others may pay a small fee for care.
what is an outpatient clinic and how much does it cost?
A free clinic is not the same as an outpatient clinic, which is any provider you can see without an appointment. Sometimes people use the phrase “outpatient clinic” to describe providers ranging from urgent care centers, emergency rooms to retail clinics.
urgent care
Urgent care centers often have a physician or mid-level professional who can see patients any time they are open. They also usually have x-ray machines on site and can treat anything from broken bones to sinus infections to burns. they are a way to bridge the gap between primary care providers and emergency rooms. You may need to see a health care provider quickly, but for something that doesn’t warrant a trip to a hospital emergency room. And that’s exactly what an urgent care center is for. Depending on whether or not you have insurance, you can pay between $35 and $150 to visit an urgent care center.
retail clinic
A retail clinic is an outpatient clinic within a retail store, usually a stand-alone pharmacy or a store with a pharmacy in it. Typically, these clinics are staffed by mid-level providers, such as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant. they are designed to be an accessible and affordable place to receive care for basic illnesses and injuries. retail clinics can even give some types of vaccines. They are usually less expensive to go to than an urgent care center. it is almost always cheaper to go to them than to the emergency room. You can expect to pay around $100 for the most common ailments that would land someone in a retail clinic, such as flu-like symptoms.
emergency room
Emergency rooms are located inside hospitals and, if you don’t have insurance, they are the most expensive way to get care without an appointment. If you don’t have insurance, you could pay thousands of dollars for a single trip to the ER.
What services do free clinics offer?
Community health centers provide prenatal care, immunizations for infants and children, general primary care, and can even make referrals for specialty care. And yes, that includes things like mental health care, substance abuse, and hiv/aids.
Many free clinics provide general primary care and also make referrals when needed. You can check if these types of clinics in your area can treat babies and children. You can also check to see what vaccines or immunizations they may offer for children and adults as well.
Can free or low-cost health clinics write prescriptions?
Yes, as long as a licensed physician is present and on staff, free and low-cost health clinics can write prescriptions. Again, the specific services at any free or low-cost health clinic may vary. You can check what services are provided and where by searching for a clinic near you here.
Can anyone go to a free or low-cost health clinic?
Free and low-cost clinics, including FQHCs, exist to serve people who are low-income, uninsured, or have limited access to health care services. those who normally go to fqhcs usually don’t have medicaid or need help signing up for medicaid. There are some FQHCs that are specifically designated to serve the homeless. There are generally no specific requirements to be seen at a free clinic, which means anyone can go there for medical care regardless of income or immigration status.
How many free clinics are there in the United States?
There are more than 1,200 volunteer-staffed free or charity clinics in the United States. In addition, there are more than 1,300 community health centers in America with more than 11,000 service delivery sites between them. you can find a fqhc in your area here.
What other options do I have for finding free or low-cost health care?
if you have a specific need for family planning care, contraceptive counseling and contraceptive supply, you can visit a designated title x clinic. Title X is the federally funded family planning program that makes these services available at no or nominal cost to anyone who needs them. you can find an x title provider here.
Family planning health centers and several freestanding abortion clinics and reproductive health care providers also provide women’s health services, from pap smears to STD tests, annual exams and even basic primary care, according to a scale mobile. You can find a family planning clinic in your area here and a free-standing women’s clinic here.
Don’t forget that if you need health insurance coverage, you should check what kind of subsidies you might qualify for in the health insurance marketplace. When you shop through healthsherpa or healthcare.gov, you’ll automatically see your potential cost savings for a Marketplace health plan. in 2019, 51% of all who signed up through healthsherpa had monthly premiums less than $50/mo after subsidies. 26% of members had premiums less than $10/month. and 18% of members had premiums of $0 per month. Marketplace insurance can be affordable, even if you’re worried it’s not. By comparing plans and shopping in the Marketplace, you can get coverage and learn how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies and cost-sharing reductions could help you get the coverage you need. at minimal cost. Enter your ZIP code below to see health plans and prices, and to see if you qualify for Medicaid.
If you need help applying for coverage, call us at (872) 228-2549.
conclusion
From nonprofits to federal programs, there are a number of additional resources available to provide care for those who could not otherwise afford it. If you have medical conditions and need care, you don’t have to go without it. From mental health services to prescription drugs, there are community health centers and free clinics designed to help bring health resources to those who need them. public health is designed to help you, so don’t be afraid to access these clinics to get the care you need.
