Uninsured? Real Care Is Still Close By.

What is a Federally Qualified Health Center, and can I use one?

FQHCs are community clinics that receive federal funding under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. In exchange for that funding, they must accept every patient regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, charge on a sliding fee scale based on income, and provide primary care, behavioral health, dental for kids, prescriptions, and often prenatal care. There are more than 14,000 FQHC sites across the U.S., including in rural areas and every major city. A first visit for an uninsured adult typically costs $25–$75 depending on income, with sliding-scale pricing continuing for follow-ups, labs, and prescriptions. You do not need to prove citizenship or immigration status to be seen. To find the nearest one, use HRSA's Find a Health Center tool or ask Meet Assistance — we'll match you to a specific site by ZIP code the same call.

What do standalone dental and vision plans cost?

If your main health coverage doesn't include dental or vision — or if you're building coverage piece by piece — standalone plans are cheap and effective.

How does hospital financial assistance actually work?

By federal law (Section 501(r) of the Internal Revenue Code), every nonprofit hospital in the U.S. must have a written financial assistance policy and must screen patients for eligibility. This applies to emergency room visits, inpatient stays, and follow-up care performed at the hospital. Eligibility is typically tied to a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level — most hospitals offer free care under 200% FPL and discounted care up to 400% FPL, though specific thresholds vary. Critically, financial assistance can be applied retroactively — even to bills already in collections — as long as you apply within the hospital's stated deadline (usually 240 days from the first bill). Always ask the billing office for the "financial assistance application" or "charity care application." Physician bills sent separately from hospital bills may not be covered, but many hospitals have separate professional-services assistance too. Meet Assistance can walk you through the paperwork.

What other local resources should I know about?

• County indigent care programs (varies by county — some cover primary and specialty care for very low-income adults)
• Free and charitable clinics (over 1,400 nationwide, staffed largely by volunteer providers)
• Prescription discount programs — GoodRx, manufacturer patient assistance, 340B pricing at FQHCs
• Maternal and child health programs — WIC, home-visiting nurses, Healthy Start
• School-based health centers for kids and teens (dental, immunizations, mental health)
• State pharmaceutical assistance programs for adults with chronic conditions
• Faith-based clinics and mission-based dental days (search locally)
• Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program clinics — comprehensive care regardless of insurance

How do I use these resources without falling through the cracks?

The biggest risk with community resources is fragmentation — an FQHC handles primary care, a free clinic covers acute needs, a hospital financial assistance program covers ER bills, and a manufacturer's patient assistance program covers a specific medication. Each has its own paperwork and its own eligibility rules. This is exactly where Meet Assistance helps: we map your situation to the two or three most useful resources for your ZIP code and specific needs, and we tell you which paperwork to file first. If you also qualify for Medicaid or a subsidized marketplace plan, we start that process in parallel so you're covered long-term. One conversation, no cost, and a clear next step. That's the goal.

Frequently asked questions