Health clinics are a great alternative if you do not currently have health insurance.
The scope of services available at a free clinic can include medical, dental, and pharmaceutical care, but will generally not include emergency or hospital care. With a focus on general healthcare, community clinics provide help to the more than 45 million who are without health insurance.
In 2008, 6.8 million people visited community health clinics (based on data from the National Association of Community Health Centers). The federal stimulus package passed earlier this year will allocate $2 billion to these health centers. This additional funding will provide access for an additional 2.8 million patients, and will help make up for cuts to state Medicaid programs, which currently support a significant portion of the cost of community clinics.
Related: In-Store Clinics: Finding Health Coverage at the Drug Store