- Mississippi has not expanded Medicaid, leaving an estimated 100,000-plus adults in the coverage gap — so FQHCs, NAFC free clinics, and hospital charity care carry unusually heavy weight in the state's safety net.
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) serve everyone regardless of insurance or ability to pay and charge sliding-scale fees tied to the federal poverty guidelines; at or below 100% of poverty the visit fee is often nominal.
- NAFC volunteer free clinics charge nothing but generally limit eligibility to uninsured adults up to about 200% of poverty and run limited (often evening/Saturday) hours.
- Nonprofit hospitals must offer financial assistance (charity care) under ACA Section 501(r); you usually have at least 240 days from the first bill to apply, so ask for the Financial Assistance Policy by name.
- Hours, services, eligibility, and even whether a clinic is still open change often — always call ahead to confirm current hours, services, and eligibility before you go.
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Mississippi has one of the highest poverty rates and one of the highest uninsured rates in the country. The state has not expanded Medicaid, leaving an estimated 100,000-plus residents in the so-called coverage gap — earning too much for traditional Mississippi Medicaid but too little to qualify for ACA marketplace subsidies. That makes the state’s safety net unusually important. Free clinics in Mississippi, together with sliding-scale health centers and hospital charity care, are often the only realistic path to primary, dental, and behavioral health care for working-class adults, especially across the Delta, Pine Belt, Gulf Coast, and rural Black Belt counties.
This guide explains the four main pathways, what each generally costs, and how to qualify. Because hours, services, eligibility rules, and even whether a given clinic is still operating can change, always call ahead to confirm current hours, services, and eligibility before you travel — and use the official locators linked below, which are kept up to date. For wider cost context, see our healthcare costs guide.
Types of free and low-cost clinics in Mississippi
Four networks make up the safety net:
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), funded under Section 330, anchor primary care and serve everyone regardless of insurance or ability to pay.
- NAFC member free clinics provide volunteer-staffed care to uninsured adults, usually at no charge.
- Sliding-scale and faith-based clinics extend reduced fees based on household income.
- Hospital charity care under ACA §501(r) covers larger bills at nonprofit Mississippi hospital systems.
Because Mississippi has not expanded Medicaid, the FQHC and NAFC free-clinic networks carry more weight here than in expansion states. Demand is high, and waitlists for new-patient appointments can stretch weeks or longer — another reason to call early and ask about the soonest available slot.
FQHCs in Mississippi and sliding-scale fees
Mississippi has more than 20 FQHC organizations operating roughly 200 service sites, per the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), with concentrations in and around Jackson, Hattiesburg, Tupelo, Greenville, Meridian, the Delta, and the Coast. Services typically include primary care, pediatrics, dental, behavioral health, women’s health, and pharmacy, though the exact services at any one site vary — confirm with the clinic.
Sliding-scale fees follow the HHS Poverty Guidelines. For 2026, the guideline is $15,960 for a single person and $33,000 for a family of four (48 contiguous states). At or below 100% of poverty, most FQHCs charge only a nominal visit fee (commonly in the range of about $20 to $35, though this varies by center), and discounts generally phase out around 200% of poverty. FQHCs accept Mississippi Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, and self-pay, and federal rules prohibit them from turning patients away for inability to pay the nominal fee. Because these amounts and cutoffs change, ask each center about its current sliding-fee schedule when you schedule.
The Mississippi Primary Health Care Association, the state’s HRSA cooperator, maintains a public directory of member health centers, which is a good way to confirm a site is still active before you go.
NAFC and free volunteer-staffed clinics in Mississippi
Free & charitable clinics affiliated with the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) tend to cluster around Jackson, the Coast, Tupelo, and Hattiesburg. They typically charge nothing, restrict eligibility to uninsured adults at or below about 200% of poverty, and rely on volunteer physicians, nurses, dentists, and pharmacists. Hours are often limited to certain evenings and Saturdays, and capacity can be tight — so calling ahead to confirm current hours, eligibility, and whether they are accepting new patients is essential.
Services commonly include primary care, basic labs, chronic-disease management for conditions like diabetes and hypertension, behavioral health, and limited specialty referrals through volunteer networks. Periodic Mission of Mercy dental events and faith-based mobile clinics also operate around the state. The NAFC clinic locator lets you search by ZIP code for the most current list.
Hospital charity care under ACA Section 501(r)
Every nonprofit hospital in Mississippi must comply with IRS Section 501(r). Each system must publish a Financial Assistance Policy (FAP), publicize it, and limit charges for FAP-eligible patients to the amounts generally billed to insured patients. Many Mississippi nonprofit systems extend assistance up to roughly 200% to 400% of poverty, though specific thresholds vary by hospital, so confirm each system’s current policy directly.
You generally have at least 240 days from your first post-discharge bill to apply for financial assistance. Do not ignore a hospital bill — apply early, ask for the “Financial Assistance Policy” by name, request it in writing, and keep copies of everything you submit. If you are unsure whether a hospital is nonprofit, ask; the 501(r) protections apply specifically to nonprofit hospitals.
Mississippi Medicaid and CHIP
Mississippi has not expanded Medicaid, so Mississippi Medicaid covers low-income parents only up to a very low income threshold (historically around a quarter of the poverty level), and most childless adults under 65 do not qualify regardless of income. Children, pregnant people, people with disabilities, and seniors qualify under separate, more generous rules, and the Mississippi CHIP program covers children in higher-income working families. Because eligibility numbers are periodically adjusted, verify the current thresholds when you apply.
If you fall in the coverage gap, an FQHC sliding scale, an NAFC free clinic, or hospital charity care will likely be your most realistic options. Apply for Mississippi Medicaid through the Mississippi Division of Medicaid. KFF publishes regular updates on Mississippi’s coverage gap and any legislative movement on expansion — worth checking, since the state’s stance can change.
How to find free clinics in Mississippi near you
The HRSA Find a Health Center tool maps every FQHC by ZIP code. 211 Mississippi, part of a national network covering the large majority of U.S. ZIP codes, connects you with a local navigator who can identify nearby clinics as well as food and housing assistance. The NAFC locator handles volunteer free clinics. Because listings change, treat these official tools as your source of truth and call any clinic to confirm before you go.
For rural patients in the Delta or Pine Belt, ask any FQHC about telehealth visits. Mississippi has been a national leader in rural telehealth, particularly through the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Center for Telehealth, which can spare a long drive for follow-up care.
What to bring to a clinic visit
Bring a photo ID (Mississippi driver’s license, state ID, passport, or consular ID), proof of a Mississippi address (utility bill, lease, or mail), and proof of household income (recent pay stubs, last tax return, a Social Security or unemployment letter, or a self-attestation form for cash income). Bring your insurance card if you have coverage, a current medication list, and any prior medical records. If you plan to apply for Mississippi Medicaid during the visit, also bring Social Security numbers for everyone in the household and immigration documents if relevant. FQHCs serve patients regardless of immigration status. When you call to confirm your appointment, ask exactly which documents that clinic requires, since requirements differ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn’t Mississippi have Medicaid expansion?
The Mississippi Legislature has repeatedly declined to adopt ACA Medicaid expansion. As a result, an estimated 100,000-plus working-age adults fall into the coverage gap — earning too much for traditional Medicaid but too little for marketplace subsidies. FQHCs and NAFC clinics absorb much of this population. Whether the state expands in the future can change, so check KFF or the state legislature for current status.
Are FQHCs in Mississippi really free?
Not always fully free, but very low-cost for the lowest incomes. At or below 100% of poverty, FQHCs typically charge only a nominal fee, and federal rules bar them from refusing care for inability to pay. Ask about the nominal-fee policy and the current sliding-fee schedule when scheduling.
Can undocumented immigrants use Mississippi free clinics?
Yes. FQHCs and NAFC free clinics serve patients regardless of immigration status. Mississippi Medicaid is restricted to citizens and certain lawfully present immigrants, but Emergency Medicaid can cover emergency care for otherwise income-eligible noncitizens.
Do Mississippi free clinics help with prescriptions?
Many do. FQHCs often operate onsite 340B pharmacies with deeply discounted drug prices, and many NAFC clinics enroll eligible patients in manufacturer patient assistance programs for free brand-name drugs. Bring your medication list to your first visit and ask what each clinic offers.
What if I need surgery or a specialist?
FQHCs and NAFC clinics maintain referral networks with volunteer specialists and discounted hospital outpatient programs. Wait times can be longer than with commercial insurance, but referrals for common needs are routine, and hospital charity care can offset a surgical bill if you qualify. Confirm the referral process with your clinic.
Getting affordable care in Mississippi
Mississippi’s safety net carries an unusually heavy load because the state has not expanded Medicaid. Between FQHCs in every region, NAFC volunteer clinics in the major metros and on the Coast, charity care at nonprofit hospitals, and limited Mississippi Medicaid for parents and people with disabilities, working-age uninsured adults still have viable paths — though demand often exceeds supply, so start early and call ahead. For ongoing primary care without insurance, our guide to direct primary care explains how flat-fee monthly memberships can work alongside the safety net. Neighboring states with similar networks worth knowing about include Louisiana, Alabama, and Tennessee.
The bottom line: Because Mississippi has not expanded Medicaid, an estimated 100,000-plus adults sit in the coverage gap, and the safety net does the heavy lifting. Your main options are FQHCs (sliding-scale fees tied to the 2026 poverty guidelines — $15,960 for one person, $33,000 for a family of four — with often-nominal fees at the lowest incomes), NAFC volunteer free clinics (usually free for uninsured adults up to about 200% of poverty), and nonprofit hospital charity care under ACA §501(r) (ask for the Financial Assistance Policy by name; you generally have 240+ days to apply). Hours, services, eligibility, and clinic status change often — always call ahead to confirm current hours, services, and eligibility, and use the official HRSA, NAFC, and 211 locators.
This article is general educational information, not medical, legal, or financial advice. Programs, fees, and eligibility change — verify current details directly with each clinic and with official sources before relying on them.
When to seek emergency care: Free clinics, FQHCs, and sliding-scale clinics are not equipped to handle medical emergencies. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you experience chest pain, signs of stroke (face droop, arm weakness, slurred speech), severe difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, a head injury with loss of consciousness, or a mental-health crisis (call or text 988). Federal law (EMTALA) requires emergency rooms to stabilize you regardless of your ability to pay, and ACA §501(r) charity care can apply to ER bills at nonprofit hospitals.
Sources
- HRSA — Find a Health Center tool and Health Center Program (Section 330) basics, including the sliding-fee-scale requirement and service to patients regardless of ability to pay.
- HHS (ASPE) — 2026 federal poverty guidelines (individual $15,960; family of four $33,000).
- National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) — clinic locator and eligibility norms for volunteer free clinics.
- IRS — ACA Section 501(r) requirements for nonprofit hospitals (Financial Assistance Policy, 240-day application window) and EMTALA context.
- KFF — Mississippi Medicaid non-expansion and coverage-gap estimates; Mississippi Division of Medicaid and CHIP eligibility rules.
- 211.org and SAMHSA 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — navigation and crisis resources.