Find low-cost health care near you
Find health centers near you
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Estimate your discount
Enter your state, family size and yearly income. We show how a health center may set your price. Nothing you type is saved.
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What to expect at a health center
A sliding fee is a price that goes down when your income is lower. Health centers use one to set your price.
A health center sees you for medical care, and many also offer dental care, mental health care and medicines.
They ask about your income and family size to set your price. Bring something that shows your income, such as a pay stub or tax return, if you have it. If you do not have proof, ask what they accept.
If you have insurance, your copay is not more than the sliding fee would be, if your plan allows it. A copay is a flat amount you pay for each visit.
Read how low-cost care at a community health center works on HealthCare.gov, or read the federal rules for health center fees.
Other places that may help
These links go to other websites. Each place has its own rules, so please call before you go.
Free and charitable clinics
About 1,400 free and charitable clinics and charitable pharmacies are run with staff and volunteers. Some are free and some ask for a small fee.
Find a free or charitable clinic
Dental care
Dental schools often offer care at a lower price. Students do the work and licensed dentists check it.
Find a dental school program Find a dental hygiene school
Birth control and family planning
Clinics funded by the federal Title X program cannot charge people with incomes at or below the poverty line, and give discounts up to 2.5 times the poverty line.
Mental health and substance use
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics must serve anyone who asks, whatever they can pay, wherever they live and whatever their age.
Find treatment on FindTreatment.gov
In a crisis, call or text 988 at any time. It is free and private. Read more about the 988 line
HIV care
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program helps people with HIV get care.
Veterans
If you served in the military and did not get a dishonorable discharge, you may be able to get VA health care. You can call 877-222-8387 to apply.
See who may get VA health care
American Indian and Alaska Native people
Indian Health Service clinics serve enrolled members of federally recognized tribes.
Find Indian Health Service care
Hospitals with free or lower-cost care under Hill-Burton
A small number of hospitals and clinics, about 127 nationwide, must still give some free or lower-cost care under an old federal program.
If you get a big hospital bill
If you get a hospital bill you cannot pay, ask the hospital for its financial assistance policy. Hospitals that are tax-exempt charities must have one, and you usually have at least 240 days after the first bill to apply. How hospital financial assistance works
Every hospital that is a tax-exempt charity must post a short, easy summary of its policy online, free and without an account. Read the IRS rule for these hospitals
If the hospital approves you for help, it cannot charge you more than it usually gets paid by insurance for the same care. Read the IRS rule on charges
Hospitals run by governments and hospitals that are not charities may have different rules. Ask them about their own help programs.
Some states have their own hospital laws.
- In Washington, state law says every hospital must give free hospital care to people with incomes up to 2 times the poverty line. For larger hospital systems, the limit is 3 times. Ask the hospital about this. Read the source of this information
- In New York, state law says hospitals must waive all charges for people under 2 times the poverty line who qualify for financial aid. Ask the hospital about this. Read the source of this information
- In Illinois, state law says most hospitals must give uninsured patients a 100 percent discount. The discount is for medically necessary care that costs more than $150 for a visit or hospital stay. This is for incomes up to 2 times the poverty line. A smaller discount applies up to 6 times the poverty line. Rural hospitals have different rules. Read the source of this information
- In California, hospitals must offer financial help to people with incomes up to 4 times the poverty line. Ask for the hospital's charity care and discount payment policy. Read the source of this information
In an emergency
If you think you are having an emergency, call 911. Emergencies include chest pain, trouble breathing, heavy bleeding and signs of a stroke.
In an emergency, go to the nearest emergency room. Hospitals with an emergency room that take Medicare must check you and treat an emergency even if you cannot pay. You may still get a bill later. Read about the emergency room law
If you have an emergency and cannot get Medicaid only because of your immigration status, Emergency Medicaid may still pay for the emergency care. Ask the hospital's financial counselor. Each state runs it in its own way. Read the federal rule on Emergency Medicaid
Medicines
For medicines, ask the health center about its pharmacy, and ask your doctor about the drug company's patient assistance program. Ways to pay less for prescriptions
Drug companies run patient assistance programs that give free or lower-priced medicine to some people with low incomes and no drug coverage. Read the federal notice on these programs
RxAssist and NeedyMeds have lists of these programs, run by other organizations.
Some large pharmacies sell a list of common generic medicines at a low set price, so ask your pharmacy.
Free discount cards and apps can lower the cash price at some pharmacies. A discount card is not insurance, so compare prices. Read our guide to comparing prescription prices.
Coverage you might be missing
- You can apply for Medicaid and CHIP any time of year. Read how to apply any time of year
- Children can often qualify for Medicaid or CHIP at higher incomes than adults. See what may apply to a child
- Medicaid can pay for pregnancy care. Check if Medicaid may cover pregnancy
- If you lost other coverage, you usually have 60 days to buy a plan. Read how special enrollment works
- In Washington, DC, the DC Health Care Alliance covers some adults who cannot get Medicaid, with incomes up to 138 percent of the poverty line. Read the source of this information
- New York's Essential Plan has a $0 monthly premium for some adults age 19 to 64 who cannot get Medicaid. Check the limits on NY State of Health. Read the source of this information
- In Texas, the County Indigent Health Care Program helps some people with very low incomes who cannot get other programs. Ask your county about it. Read the source of this information
- Some counties run their own programs for people without insurance. Ask your county health department.
Where this page gets its facts
- Health center discount rules: HRSA Health Center Program Compliance Manual, chapter 9
- What health centers do: HRSA, What is a health center
- Low-cost care at health centers: HealthCare.gov, community health centers
- Poverty guidelines: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2026 poverty guidelines
- Hospital financial assistance: IRS, financial assistance policy rules
- Limit on hospital charges: IRS, limitation on charges
- 240-day application window: IRS, billing and collections
- Emergency room care: CMS, Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
- Emergency Medicaid: Federal rule 42 CFR 440.255
- Family planning clinics: Federal rule 42 CFR 59.5
- Dental schools: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, finding dental care
- Mental health clinics: SAMHSA, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
- Veterans: VA health care eligibility
- Indian Health Service: Indian Health Service patient questions
- Free and charitable clinics: National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
- Hill-Burton: HRSA, Hill-Burton free and reduced-cost care
- Patient assistance programs: Federal Register notice from the Office of Inspector General, 2005
- Apply for Medicaid and CHIP: HealthCare.gov, getting Medicaid and CHIP
Health center list from HRSA, updated October 16, 2026.
Data credits and license
Health center locations come from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Service Delivery and Look-Alike Sites file, downloaded October 16, 2026. HRSA did not review this page. The files in /tools/low-cost-care/data/hc/ are a changed version of that database and are shared under the Open Database License 1.0. ZIP code points come from the U.S. Census Bureau 2026 ZCTA Gazetteer file.
Some ZIP codes, such as PO box ZIP codes, have no Census point. We use a nearby area instead.
Questions about low-cost care
What is a community health center?
A clinic that gets federal money to give care to everyone, even people who cannot pay. It charges less when your income is lower.
Do I need insurance to go to a health center?
No, health centers see people with and without insurance. They set your price from your income and family size.
How much will a visit cost?
It depends on the center and your income. If your income is at or below the poverty line, health centers must give a full discount, though some centers charge a small set fee. Between 1 and 2 times the poverty line, they must give a partial discount.
Can a health center turn me away if I cannot pay?
No, federal rules say no one can be denied care because they cannot pay.
Is my ZIP code saved?
No, the search runs on your device. Your browser asks our website for the list of health centers in your area, so our website can tell which part of the country you looked at. It never gets your full ZIP code.
Why is a clinic I know not on the list?
The list has only federally funded health centers. Free clinics, family planning clinics and dental schools are listed through the links on this page.
This tool gives an estimate from public numbers. It does not make decisions about your coverage. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.