Free and sliding-fee health or dental care in Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Waukesha County residents, including those without much money or that are not insured, may get medical and dental care, sometimes for free. The options are extensive, ranging from volunteer doctors run clinics in Waukesha, Oconomowoc, and Menomonee Falls Wisconsin as well as nonprofit dental groups and the public health department. This guide lists each program that may help people, with phone numbers and websites.
In addition to the noted options, government programs are part of the picture too. BadgerCare Plus is the state health insurance program for people with low incomes, and you can apply at any time of year. The county runs a mental health crisis line that answers at any hour and trained navigators help with BadgerCare or private health insurance applications too. The NHPB guide to medical programs that may help the uninsured in Wisconsin explains the statewide programs in more detail.
Primary community health center care in Waukesha
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers is the community health center organization serving the Waukesha area. It has a medical clinic at 309 E North St in Waukesha and a bilingual behavioral health clinic at La Casa de Esperanza, 410 Arcadian Ave in Waukesha. Call 262-408-2530. The website is https://sschc.org. Sixteenth Street treats everyone, charges on a sliding fee scale based on income, and provides care in English and Spanish. Its services include medical care for all ages, pregnancy care, mental health care, and substance use treatment. Services offered at the Waukesha location can change, and patients are sometimes seen at the organization's Milwaukee clinics instead, so call first and staff can direct you to the nearest open site.
Free local clinics run by volunteers medical staff
Waukesha Free Clinic serves the city of Waukesha and the whole county from 237 Wisconsin Ave, on the Carroll University campus in downtown Waukesha. Call 262-544-6777. The website is https://waukeshafreeclinic.org. The clinic provides free medical care to people who are uninsured, underinsured, or have low incomes and who live, work, or attend school in Waukesha County. Visits are by appointment.
- Doctor clinics generally run on Monday and Thursday evenings and Wednesday mornings, and office staff answer the phone on weekdays. Volunteer specialists also hold clinics for needs such as women's health, heart care, and physical therapy. The clinic can arrange dental referrals and reaches out to people who are homeless. This organization used to be called St. Joseph's Medical Clinic, so some older listings still show that name.
Lake Area Free Clinic serves the entire county from 856 Armour Rd, Suite B, in Oconomowoc. Call 262-569-4990. The website is https://www.lakeareafreeclinic.org. The clinic provides free medical care to uninsured adults with low incomes, and everything is free for medical patients, including medications, lab work, imaging, specialist referrals, and rides to appointments. Case workers also help people who call but are not yet patients. The clinic runs a dental program with reduced fees for adults who are uninsured or on BadgerCare Plus. Despite the name, patients come from every part of Waukesha County.
The Pamela Parker Community Outreach Health Clinic is a free clinic inside Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital at W180 N8085 Town Hall Rd in Menomonee Falls. Call 262-257-3393. Details are at https://www.froedtert.com/community-engagement/menomonee-falls-hospital/outreach-health-clinic. Volunteer doctors and nurses treat uninsured and underinsured people from the hospital's service area, with a focus on ongoing conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. The clinic generally holds sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and care is free, though a small donation is requested at each visit. Call to check the current schedule before going.
Waukesha County county residents can try neighboring counties as well. A statewide map of free and charitable clinics is at https://www.wafcclinics.org/find-a-clinic.html.
Free and low cost dental care for kids and/or adults
Community Smiles Dental is a nonprofit dental clinic group with offices in Waukesha and Menomonee Falls. Call 262-522-7645. The website is https://communitysmiles.org. The group provides exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions, and emergency dental care, with priority for children from birth through age 18. It also treats pregnant women, patients with special health care needs, and some adults. Patients qualify with BadgerCare Plus, ForwardHealth, or Medicaid, or by being uninsured with a low income, and uninsured patients pay a discounted fee. Clinic locations can shift, so call to confirm the current address before your first visit.
Waukesha County Technical College runs a dental hygiene clinic on its downtown Waukesha campus. Call 262-691-5224. The clinic page is https://www.wctc.edu/WCTC/Community/Student-Provided-Services/Dental-Hygiene-Clinic . Student hygienists clean teeth, take x-rays, and apply sealants and fluoride under the supervision of a licensed dentist and a registered dental hygienist. The fee is low and covers the exam, cleaning, and x-rays.
- The clinic follows the school calendar and generally runs during the fall and spring semesters, and patients join a waiting list, so sign up early. Appointments are long and may take more than one visit. The clinic provides cleanings and preventive care only, so you still need a dentist for fillings or tooth removal.
Donated Dental Services arranges free dental treatment from volunteer dentists across Wisconsin, with options available for residents in Waukesha County as well. The Wisconsin Dental Association Foundation runs the program for people who have a permanent disability, are age 65 or older, or are medically fragile, and who cannot afford care or get it through BadgerCare Plus or dental insurance. There is an application, a phone interview, and a waiting list. Call 888-338-6852. Details are at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/oral-health/programs/donated.htm.
Mental health care and crisis help - including emergency options
Help is available at any hour. Call or text 988 to reach the national crisis line from anywhere in Wisconsin. County crisis workers answer 262-548-7666 during weekday business hours and 262-547-3388 on evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Waukesha County also runs an outpatient behavioral health clinic at 514 Riverview Ave in Waukesha. The clinic treats mental health and substance use conditions at every age, and payment is based on ability to pay. Adults can call 262-548-7950, and parents can call 262-896-3397 for a child. Details are at https://www.waukeshacounty.gov/health-and-human-services/clinical-services/outpatient-behavioral-health-services/. Sixteenth Street's bilingual behavioral health clinic in Waukesha, described earlier in this guide, is another option.
Public health services from your county government
Waukesha County Public Health runs low cost clinical services at 514 Riverview Ave in Waukesha. Call 262-896-8430. Details are at https://www.waukeshacounty.gov/health-and-human-services/public-health/. The immunization clinic gives children's shots by appointment through the federal Vaccines for Children program, which serves kids who are uninsured or on Medicaid, and fees may be waived. Public health nurses also provide testing for HIV and other infections, TB tests, and the WIC nutrition program. Some cities and villages in the county run their own health departments, so check your local city or village website too.
Planned Parenthood runs the Waukesha Health Center at 426 W Main St in Waukesha. Call 844-493-1052 to book. The center provides birth control, STI testing and treatment, pregnancy testing, and wellness care. Uninsured patients may qualify for financial assistance, and staff explain costs before the visit. The center's page is https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/wisconsin/waukesha/53186/waukesha-health-center-2905-91860.
Getting covered while you’re getting health care
Free and income‑based clinics can treat immediate medical or dental needs, and they are often also a great place to start getting longer‑term coverage in place. BadgerCare Plus provides doctor visits, prescriptions, hospital care, and more for Wisconsin residents with low incomes, and you can apply at any time of year. If you’re already at a clinic, staff can often help you gather documents or point you to enrollment support. You can apply online at https://access.wisconsin.gov or call 800‑362‑3002 to reach your local enrollment agency. Full program details are at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/badgercareplus/index.htm.
If you need help applying, appealing a decision, or figuring out charity‑care options while you’re still working with a clinic, Covering Wisconsin offers free navigator assistance statewide. Their certified staff help people enroll in BadgerCare Plus or HealthCare.gov coverage, understand notices, and find additional financial‑aid programs that clinics may recommend. There’s no charge for any of their services. Learn more at https://coveringwi.org.
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