Medical Care Programs for People With No Health Insurance
If you have no health insurance, this page is for you. It covers free and low-cost care options — from government programs and community clinics to national nonprofits and condition-specific assistance — organized so you can find what fits your situation without wading through everything at once.
If you have insurance but can't afford what it doesn't cover — high deductibles, big co-pays, expensive prescriptions — that's a different problem with different solutions. See our page on help for the underinsured.
Start Here: Apply for Medicaid Even If You Think You Won't Qualify
The single most useful thing an uninsured person can do is apply for Medicaid and, if applicable, their state's children's health program (CHIP). Many people assume they earn too much or that they won't qualify — and sometimes they're right. But apply anyway, for two reasons.
First, you might qualify and not know it. Medicaid rules are more flexible than most people realize, and eligibility varies by state, household size, age, disability status, and whether you're pregnant. Many states expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, making it available to working adults who would never have qualified before.
Second, many free clinics, disease-specific programs, and nonprofits will only help patients who have been formally denied Medicaid. The denial letter itself becomes a key that unlocks other programs. So even a "no" from Medicaid is worth getting on paper.
Apply through your state's Medicaid agency or at https://www.healthcare.gov/medicaid-chip/getting-medicaid-chip/. Each state's specific programs and how to apply are listed in the state-by-state section at the bottom of this page.
Free and Sliding-Scale Clinics
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are required by law to see patients regardless of their ability to pay. They charge on a sliding scale — what you pay is based on what you earn, and for people at very low incomes, the cost can be zero. Services typically include primary care, dental care, mental health services, prenatal care, and immunizations. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services maintains a searchable locator at https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/, or you can call 1-877-464-4772.
Free clinics — run by volunteers, nonprofits, and faith communities — are a separate network and provide care completely outside the insurance system. The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics can connect you to one nearby. Find a free clinic in your area through our free clinic directory. As additional options, the the NHPB free clinic directory page.
The Hill-Burton program requires certain federally funded hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient facilities to provide free or reduced-cost care to people who can't afford it. This obligation runs even for people who have some income — it's not only for those with no money at all. Call 1-800-638-0742 or read more about Hill-Burton free hospital care to find out if a facility near you participates.
Cancer Screenings, Diagnosis, and Support
The CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (website: https://www.cdc.gov/breast-cervical-cancer-screening/index.html) provides free or low-cost mammograms, Pap tests, and diagnostic follow-up to uninsured and low-income women across every state. If a cancer is detected, most states have a companion Medicaid program that covers treatment costs. Call 1-800-232-4636 or find your state's program in our list below.
The American Cancer Society offers patient navigation, counseling, and in some regions limited financial help for uninsured patients dealing with cancer treatment. Their Road to Recovery program arranges volunteer drivers to get cancer patients to and from treatment — helpful when transportation is a barrier. Call 1-800-227-2345.
For uninsured patients who may qualify for clinical trials — which can provide access to new treatments at no cost to participants — EMERGINGMED (website: https://app.emergingmed.com/emed/home) maintains a matching service. Call 1-877-601-8601. The National Cancer Institute also coordinates clinical trial access at 1-888-624-1937.
We have a more extensive page on programs that may help detect cancer. The NHPB free cancer screenings page provides details including on skin, prostate, and colon screenings offered by local nonprofits and hospitals.
Prescription Medications
Not having insurance doesn't mean paying retail price for every prescription. Several overlapping systems exist to help uninsured patients get medications free or at sharply reduced cost — and the best starting point is using more than one of them below - or see the NHPB NHPB free prescription drug page.
NeedyMeds (website: https://needymeds.org/) is a nonprofit that maintains one of the most comprehensive free databases of patient assistance programs in the country. You search by drug name and it shows you every manufacturer program, discount card, and state program that applies — including programs you'd never find on your own. Their helpline is 1-800-503-6897 or see the NHPB guide to NeedyMeds.
RxAssist (website: https://www.rxassist.org/) is a parallel database used by both patients and health care workers. It's particularly useful for finding manufacturer programs for brand-name drugs, which often provide medications at no cost to uninsured patients who meet income guidelines. Applications for most of these programs run through your doctor's office.
Rx Outreach (https://rxoutreach.org/) is a fully licensed nonprofit mail-order pharmacy that fills more than 1,000 medication strengths covering most chronic conditions — diabetes, heart disease, mental health, and others — at prices far below retail. Unlike patient assistance programs, Rx Outreach doesn't require a specific diagnosis fund to be open. Enrollment is done online, by phone at 1-888-796-1234, or by paper application.
For individual brand-name drugs, major pharmaceutical companies run their own patient assistance programs. Pfizer RxPathways (website: https://www.pfizerrxpathways.com/), Lilly Cares (website: https://www.illy.com/patient-support), and similar programs from other manufacturers provide free medications directly to uninsured patients who meet income guidelines. Your doctor typically needs to submit the application. NeedyMeds links to all of these by drug name - or see our patient assistance program page.
State pharmaceutical assistance programs add another layer for certain populations — particularly seniors, people with HIV, and in some states those with specific chronic conditions. These are separate from Medicaid and worth checking even if you've been told you don't qualify for other help. Our state-by-state pages below include what's available in your state.
For people who need medications immediately and are paying cash, community health centers receive federally negotiated drug pricing under the 340B program — meaning the medications dispensed at FQHC pharmacies are often significantly cheaper than at a commercial pharmacy, even without assistance programs. Ask the health center whether they have an in-house pharmacy or a contracted 340B pharmacy.
Dental Care for the Uninsured
Dental care is one of the hardest gaps to fill without insurance, and tooth pain is one of the most common reasons uninsured adults end up in emergency rooms — where they can be treated for pain but not for the underlying problem. There are real options, but they take some finding.
Remote Area Medical (website: https://www.ramusa.org/) runs free pop-up dental, vision, and medical clinics across the country, mostly in underserved communities. Clinics are first-come, first-served — some patients arrive the night before. Upcoming clinic locations are listed at ramusa.org. Call 865-579-1530.
The Dental Lifeline Network (website: https://dentallifeline.org/) operates a national network of volunteer dentists who provide comprehensive free dental treatment to adults who are disabled, elderly, or medically fragile. Call 303-534-5360. For broader free dental resources, our guide to free dental care programs covers nonprofits, charity programs, and what community health centers offer.
Dental schools provide cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, and sometimes crowns and dentures at a fraction of private practice prices. Procedures are performed by students under close faculty supervision — the care is thorough, though appointments move slowly. The American Dental Association lists all accredited programs at ada.org. Our directory of dental school clinics helps you find programs by location.
Federally Qualified Health Centers are required to offer dental services at sliding-scale fees and are often the most practical option for routine care. Use the HRSA health center locator at https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/ or call 1-877-464-4772 to find one near you.
Eye Care
Uninsured adults who need eye exams, glasses, or treatment for eye conditions have several legitimate options that don't require paying out of pocket.
EyeCare America (website: https://www.aao.org/eyecare-america), a program of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, provides comprehensive medical eye exams at no out-of-pocket cost to uninsured adults 65 and older — and in some cases younger adults with specific risk factors. Coverage extends to up to one year of care for any condition found during that exam. Call 1-800-222-3937.
Vision USA (website: https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/charitable-programs), run by the American Optometric Association, provides free eye exams to low-income uninsured working adults and their families. Call 1-800-766-4466.
New Eyes for the Needy (website: https://new-eyes.org/) provides vouchers redeemable for prescription eyeglasses for adults and children who demonstrate financial need. They don't provide exams — just glasses, once you have a prescription. Call 1-973-376-4903.
Lions Clubs International (website: https://www.lionsclubs.org/en) runs vision assistance programs in communities across the country through local clubs. Services vary by chapter but commonly include free eye exams, glasses, and referrals to ophthalmologists for more serious conditions. Contact your local Lions Club to find out what's offered in your area.
For a broader directory of free eye exams, glasses programs, and low-cost vision clinics, our guide to free eye care and prescription glasses programs covers options by type and population.
Hearing Aids and Hearing Loss
Hearing aids remain one of the most expensive uninsured medical needs — a single pair can run $2,000 to $7,000. Several programs help.
Starkey Cares (website: https://www.starkey.com/starkeycares), the charitable arm of Starkey Hearing Technologies, provides hearing aids at no cost to U.S. residents who have no other means to obtain them. An application and proof of financial need are required. Call 1-800-328-8602.
The Lions Club has a long-standing hearing assistance mission in addition to vision — local clubs often hold hearing screening events and can connect community members with donated or subsidized hearing aids. Find your local chapter at lionsclubs.org.
HearNow, the program that Starkey absorbed, occasionally still appears in searches under its old name. If you see it listed elsewhere, it now operates under Starkey Cares.
Our guide to hearing aid assistance programs covers additional options including state vocational rehabilitation programs, which in many states will fund hearing aids for people with hearing loss that affects their ability to work.
Diabetes Care and Supplies
Uninsured diabetics face compounding costs — insulin, test strips, glucose monitors, and the ongoing medical monitoring that diabetes requires. The landscape for insulin assistance in particular has changed significantly in recent years.
All three major insulin manufacturers — Eli Lilly (website: https://insulins.lilly.com/lilly-insulin-value-program), Novo Nordisk (website: https://www.novonordisk-us.com/), and Sanofi — have patient assistance programs that provide free insulin to uninsured patients who meet income guidelines. Eli Lilly's Insulin Value Program caps out-of-pocket costs at $35 per month for qualifying patients. Applications for manufacturer programs typically go through a doctor's office or can be initiated through NeedyMeds.
The American Diabetes Association (website: https://diabetes.org/) maintains a searchable resource hub for financial assistance, free clinics, and reduced-cost supplies. Their helpline is 1-800-342-2383.
Community health centers, which charge on a sliding scale, can provide the ongoing diabetes management visits and lab work that uninsured patients would otherwise skip. Many also have in-house pharmacies with 340B-discounted pricing on insulin and supplies. Find a center at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
Our guide to free diabetes medication and supply assistance covers additional programs including free test strips, continuous glucose monitors, and pump assistance programs offered by device manufacturers.
Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment
Finding mental health care without insurance is harder than it should be, but real options exist — and a federal phone number is the best place to start.
SAMHSA's National Helpline — 1-800-662-4357 (1-800-662-HELP) — is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in English and Spanish. Callers are connected to local treatment facilities, support groups, and state-funded programs. SAMHSA explicitly routes uninsured callers to state-funded treatment options. The online treatment locator at https://findtreatment.gov/ lets you search by location, insurance status, and type of care.
Community mental health centers, which receive state and federal funding, are required to provide services on a sliding-fee basis and in many states cannot turn away patients for inability to pay. These are separate from private therapy practices — look specifically for a community mental health center or a county behavioral health authority in your area.
Federally Qualified Health Centers often provide integrated behavioral health services alongside primary care, which means you can address mental health needs at the same sliding-scale appointment as a physical health visit. Use the HRSA locator at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988 — provides immediate crisis support and can connect callers with follow-up care and local resources. It is not just for emergencies; anyone struggling can call.
University training clinics, where graduate students provide supervised therapy, often charge on a sliding scale and can be far more affordable than private practitioners. Contact psychology or counseling departments at universities in your area to ask about clinic services.
Our guide to free mental health services and therapy options covers additional programs including nonprofit counseling centers and telehealth resources for uninsured patients.
Transportation to Medical Care
Getting to treatment when you don't have reliable transportation — or when the specialist you need is hundreds of miles away — is a real barrier. These programs address it directly.
Angel Flight (website: https://www.angelflightsoars.org/), though several regional chapters also operate independently) arranges free air transportation on volunteer-piloted private aircraft for patients who need to travel significant distances for non-emergency medical care. It operates primarily for patients who cannot afford commercial air travel. Call 1-888-426-2643.
Corporate Angel Network (website: https://www.corpangelnetwork.org/) arranges free seats on corporate aircraft for cancer patients traveling to treatment centers. Unlike Angel Flight, eligibility is not based on financial need — any cancer patient who is ambulatory and medically stable can request a flight. The program also serves bone marrow and stem cell donors and recipients. In 2025, CAN completed its 70,000th patient flight. Call 1-866-328-1341.
The National Patient Travel Center (website: https://mercymedical.org/) provides referrals across the full range of long-distance medical air transportation programs — volunteer aviation, commercial airline discount programs, and air ambulance resources — through a single clearinghouse. Call 1-800-296-1217.
The American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery program arranges volunteer drivers for ground transportation to and from cancer treatment for patients who can't drive themselves and don't have a ride. Call 1-800-227-2345.
Children and Families
CHIP — the Children's Health Insurance Program — is the most important resource for families who earn too much for Medicaid but can't afford private coverage. It provides comprehensive coverage for children up to age 19 at low or no cost, including doctor visits, immunizations, prescriptions, dental, mental health services, and hospitalization. Pregnant women are often covered through related programs. The federal CHIP enrollment hub at https://www.insurekidsnow.gov/ connects families to their state's program and walks through the application. Call 1-877-543-7669 or find more information on the option at the NHPB guide to Children’s Health Insurance Program.
The Vaccines for Children program (website: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-for-children/about/index.html) provides free immunizations to uninsured, Medicaid-enrolled, and low-income children through participating doctors' offices and health departments. The vaccination schedule covers measles, polio, flu, tetanus, HPV, chickenpox, and others. Contact your local health department to find a VFC provider.
Children with serious chronic medical conditions may qualify for state Children with Special Health Care Needs programs, which provide supplemental services — evaluations, therapies, medications, equipment, and case management — beyond what standard Medicaid covers. These vary by state and are detailed in the individual state pages below.
The Aubrey Rose Foundation (website: https://aubreyrose.org/) provides direct cash grants to families of children with life-threatening medical conditions to help cover treatment bills. Grants are available nationwide. Call 513-265-5801.
Seniors and Adults Approaching 65
Adults between 60 and 64 who are uninsured have a narrow window before Medicare eligibility — and that window can be one of the most costly periods of life if a health problem develops. A few things are worth knowing.
If income is low enough, Medicaid may cover this group depending on the state. Always apply — a denial letter can unlock other resources, as noted above.
BenefitsCheckUp (website: https://benefitscheckup.org/), run by the National Council on Aging, is a free online screening tool for adults 55 and older that identifies programs they may qualify for — including prescription assistance, health care programs, utility help, and other benefits they may not know exist. The tool is free to use. Call 1-202-479-1200.
Once Medicare begins, costs don't disappear. Medicare Savings Programs — offered through state Medicaid agencies — can pay Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, and copays for low-income beneficiaries. The federal Extra Help program (apply at ssa.gov) reduces Part D drug costs. Details for each state are in the state pages below.
The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center (website: https://ltcombudsman.org/) helps seniors navigate long-term care options and resolve problems with care facilities and coverage. Call 1-202-332-2275.
Additional National Resources
The Office of Minority Health Resource Center (website: https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/) addresses health care access specifically for uninsured minorities — including African Americans, Hispanic and Latino communities, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, Alaska Natives, and American Indians. Referrals, translated materials, and program guidance are available. Call 1-800-444-6472.
The National Hispanic Prenatal Hotline provides bilingual support in Spanish and English to help women access prenatal care, navigate language and cultural barriers, and connect with local services. Call 1-800-504-7081.
The Patient Advocate Foundation (website: https://www.patientadvocate.org/) provides free professional advocacy to help uninsured patients navigate care access, insurance disputes, and assistance program applications. Their case managers work directly with providers and programs on a patient's behalf. Call 1-800-532-5274. Our guide to patient advocate services explains how these programs work and when to use one.
Mission of Mercy (missionofmercy.org) provides free medical, dental, and prescription care at regional clinics, including to undocumented immigrants and others who don't qualify for most programs. It is not available in every area — check their site for clinic locations and schedules. Call 301-682-5683.
Healthcare.gov's community health center search (website: https://www.healthcare.gov/community-health-centers/) is the federal government's primary tool for locating both FQHCs and free clinics by ZIP code. This is the same locator behind most state Medicaid websites' clinic finders.
For telehealth options available to uninsured patients, including reduced-fee and free mental health counseling services, our guide to telehealth for the uninsured covers current programs by type.
Healthcare programs for the uninsured by state
Programs for the uninsured vary by state listed below and can change over time. A number of qualifications will need to be met by applicants, including income and other thresholds. Some medical or dental for patients without insurance are offered by non-profits or charities in the state community. Other free programs for the uninsured are offered directly by the state government.
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nevada
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Washington DC
West Virginia
Wisconsin
A note about this information: NeedHelpPayingBills.com is not a medical provider and does not offer medical advice. The health care information on this site is provided for informational purposes only, to help people locate assistance programs and understand what may be available to them. Program eligibility rules, income limits, and enrollment periods change regularly — sometimes more than once a year. Always verify current details directly with the program before applying or making any health care decisions. Find more details about the Medical and Health Information on NeedHelpPayingBills.com.
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