How to choose a community health center
What community health centers are, what the HRSA data on our pages means, sliding fees and who pays, what to ask, and where to raise a concern.
Who this guide is for
For anyone who needs a regular place for primary care (checkups, care when you are sick, and often dental, mental health and pharmacy services), including people without insurance or with low income. You do not need to be poor to use a health center.
What the official data on our pages means
- Health Center Program site or Look-Alike
- Sites listed by HRSA in the federal Health Center Program. Look-Alikes meet the same program rules without federal grant funding.
- Sliding fee scale
- These health centers must offer discounts based on income and family size, and serve patients regardless of their ability to pay.
- Site type, hours and services
- As the health center reports them to HRSA. A site can be a full clinic, a school or a mobile unit; call to confirm hours and services.
Questions to ask when you call or visit
- Is the health center taking new patients, and how soon can I get a first appointment?
- What documents do I need to qualify for the sliding fee (proof of income, family size)? Is there a minimum fee per visit?
- Which services are offered at this site: dental, mental health, pharmacy, prenatal care, lab tests?
- Do staff or interpreters speak my language? Is there help to apply for Medicaid or other coverage?
- Who do I call after hours?
Warning signs
- You are told you cannot be seen because you have no insurance or cannot pay. Health Center Program sites must serve patients regardless of ability to pay; ask about the sliding fee.
- No one can explain the fee schedule or give you a written bill.
Costs and who pays
Health centers accept Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and most accept private insurance.
No insurance: you pay based on the sliding fee scale, which depends on your income and family size. Many centers have staff who help people apply for Medicaid, CHIP or a health plan.
In general terms only. Deductibles, coinsurance and other amounts change every year, and Medicaid rules differ by state: check Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE or your state Medicaid agency, and ask your plan.
How to complain or get help
- Ask the health center for its patient complaint process. Health centers in the program are governed by a board, most of whose members are patients of the center.
- Concerns about a clinician’s licence or conduct: the state licensing board for that profession (for example the state medical or nursing board).
- Problems with Medicaid or CHIP coverage: your state Medicaid agency. Problems with Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Find care on US Patient Guide
Common questions
Can I go to a community health center if I have no insurance?
Yes. Health centers in the federal Health Center Program serve everyone, regardless of ability to pay, and offer a sliding fee based on income and family size.
Do health centers only see people with low income?
No. Anyone can be a patient. People with insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, use health centers too.
Is a health center the same as urgent care?
No. A health center is a regular place for primary care, usually with appointments. Urgent care treats problems that need care soon but are not emergencies. In an emergency, call 911.
Sources
Written in plain language by US Patient Guide from the official sources above, November 2, 2026. The facts on each provider page come from the official data shown on that page, with its date. Not medical advice.