Free & Low-Cost Clinics in New York: FQHCs, Sliding-Scale, and Safety-Net Care

New York’s safety net is the largest and most varied in the country. The state has millions of Medicaid enrollees, runs a uniquely generous Essential Plan, and supports a community health center network spanning every county from Manhattan to the Adirondacks. Even with all that, several million New Yorkers remain uninsured, including a sizable population of undocumented immigrants who do not qualify for full Medicaid. Free clinics in New York are critical for those residents, blending federally funded community health centers, NAFC volunteer clinics, public hospital charity care, and the layered NY Medicaid and Essential Plan system.

This guide explains the main pathways, what each costs, and how to qualify. It is general information, not medical, legal, or financial advice – programs, income limits, and fees change, so verify the current details before you rely on them. For broader cost context, see our healthcare costs guide.

Types of free and low-cost clinics in New York

Four networks operate in parallel. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), funded under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act, anchor primary care for low-income residents and serve everyone regardless of insurance or immigration status. NAFC member free clinics deliver volunteer-staffed care at little or no cost. Sliding-scale practices and faith-based clinics extend reduced fees by household income. Hospital charity care under ACA Section 501(r), reinforced in New York by the state’s Hospital Financial Assistance Law, covers larger bills at nonprofit hospitals.

New York City layers an additional public hospital safety net through NYC Health + Hospitals, which operates roughly a dozen acute care hospitals, dozens of community-based clinics, and the NYC Care program providing low-cost or free care to uninsured residents regardless of immigration status.

FQHCs in New York and sliding-scale fees

New York has more than 70 FQHC organizations operating hundreds of service sites statewide, per the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Concentrations exist throughout New York City, Long Island, Westchester, the Hudson Valley, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and across the rural North Country. Services typically include primary care, pediatrics, dental, behavioral health, women’s health, and pharmacy.

Sliding-scale fees follow the HHS Poverty Guidelines, which are updated each year (check the current figures rather than an older year’s numbers). At or below 100% of the poverty level, most FQHCs charge a nominal fee – often in the range of about $20 to $35 per visit – and discounts commonly extend up to 200% of the poverty level. Federal rules prohibit FQHCs from turning patients away for inability to pay. FQHCs accept NY Medicaid, the Essential Plan, Medicare, private insurance, and self-pay.

The Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS) is the state’s HRSA cooperator and maintains a public directory of member health centers, which is a useful complement to the federal locator.

NAFC and free volunteer-staffed clinics in New York

NAFC member clinics in New York are concentrated in NYC, Long Island, Westchester, Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse. Many charge nothing, restrict eligibility to uninsured adults at or below roughly 200% of the poverty level, and run on volunteer physicians, nurses, dentists, and pharmacists. Hours are often evenings and Saturdays. Eligibility rules and hours vary by clinic, so confirm before you go.

Services commonly include primary care, basic labs, chronic disease management, behavioral health, and limited dental. Specialty referrals come through volunteer networks, with academic medical centers in NYC, Buffalo, and Rochester providing strong specialist support. The NAFC clinic locator lets you search by ZIP code.

Hospital charity care under ACA Section 501(r)

Every nonprofit hospital in New York must comply with IRS Section 501(r). New York adds the state’s Hospital Financial Assistance Law (HFAL), which sets minimum eligibility floors and caps charges for low-income uninsured residents. Many New York hospitals extend financial assistance up to roughly 200% to 400% of the poverty level, with some, including NYC Health + Hospitals, going further – confirm each hospital’s specific policy.

You generally have a window of at least several months (often 240 days from your first post-discharge bill) to apply. Do not ignore the bill. Apply early, ask for the hospital’s Financial Assistance Policy by name, and request a written copy.

NY Medicaid, Essential Plan, and Child Health Plus

New York adopted Medicaid expansion in 2014 and operates one of the most generous programs in the country. NY Medicaid covers adults up to 138% of the federal poverty level (a figure in the low $20,000s for a single person, updated annually – verify the current amount), with broader eligibility for children, pregnant people, and people with disabilities.

The Essential Plan is New York’s Basic Health Program, an unusually generous coverage tier created under an ACA option. Historically it covered residents from roughly 138% to 200% of the poverty level; New York expanded it, effective in 2024, to cover residents up to 250% of the poverty level, with $0 to low monthly premiums and no deductibles. Child Health Plus extends coverage for children at higher income levels than adult Medicaid. Because thresholds and premiums can change, confirm the current limits when you apply.

Apply through the NY State of Health marketplace. FQHCs and NYC Health + Hospitals navigators can complete applications onsite at no cost. KFF tracks New York enrollment data, and the state’s uninsured rate has fallen substantially since the Essential Plan launched.

A 2026 note on marketplace subsidies

If you earn too much for the Essential Plan and buy a marketplace plan instead, be aware that the enhanced federal premium tax credits (in place since 2021) were scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. Whether they continue for 2026 is uncertain and could affect what marketplace coverage costs. Check your actual premium and subsidy at NY State of Health during open enrollment rather than assuming last year’s price – and note that the Essential Plan and Medicaid, for those who qualify, are unaffected by that particular subsidy question.

How to find free clinics in New York near you

The HRSA Find a Health Center tool maps every FQHC by ZIP code – these centers offer care on a sliding fee scale regardless of ability to pay. NY 211 connects callers with local navigators by phone, text, or web chat. The NAFC locator handles volunteer free clinics. NYC residents can also call 311 or visit nyc.gov/health for borough-specific resources, including NYC Care for uninsured residents at any NYC Health + Hospitals facility.

For rural patients in the North Country, Adirondacks, Catskills, or Western New York, ask the closest FQHC about telehealth visits. Most New York community health centers expanded telehealth during the pandemic and have kept it as a permanent option, which can save a long drive.

What to bring to a clinic visit

Bring a photo ID (New York driver’s license, state ID, IDNYC, passport, or consular ID), proof of New York address (utility bill, lease, mail), and proof of household income (recent pay stubs, last tax return, Social Security or unemployment letter, or a self-attestation form for cash income). Bring your insurance card if you carry coverage. Bring a current medication list and any past medical records.

If you plan to apply for NY Medicaid or the Essential Plan during the visit, also bring Social Security numbers for everyone in the household and immigration documents if relevant. FQHCs and NYC Health + Hospitals serve patients regardless of immigration status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are FQHCs in New York really free?

At or below 100% of the poverty level, FQHCs typically charge a nominal fee (often around $20 to $35 per visit), and federal rules prohibit them from refusing care for inability to pay. Ask about the nominal fee and sliding-scale policy when scheduling.

What is the New York Essential Plan?

The Essential Plan is New York’s Basic Health Program. As of the 2024 expansion, it covers residents with incomes up to 250% of the federal poverty level. Premiums are $0 to low, there are no deductibles, and coverage includes primary care, hospital care, prescriptions, behavioral health, dental, vision, and many specialty services. Apply through NY State of Health, and confirm the current income limits when you apply.

What is NYC Care?

NYC Care is a low-cost or free healthcare access program at NYC Health + Hospitals facilities for residents who do not qualify for or cannot afford insurance, regardless of immigration status. It is available across the five boroughs, with fees based on income.

Can undocumented immigrants use New York free clinics?

Yes. FQHCs, NAFC free clinics, and NYC Health + Hospitals serve patients regardless of immigration status. Adult NY Medicaid is generally restricted to citizens and certain lawfully present immigrants, but emergency Medicaid, the Essential Plan (which New York has extended to some lawfully present immigrants), and the Child Health Plus program (children regardless of status) provide additional coverage. Check current eligibility, which has been expanding in New York.

Do New York free clinics help with prescriptions?

Many do. FQHCs often operate onsite 340B pharmacies with deeply discounted drug prices, and NAFC clinics frequently enroll eligible patients in manufacturer patient assistance programs for free or low-cost brand-name drugs. Bring your medication list.

Getting affordable care in New York

New York’s safety net is the most generous in the country by several measures. Between FQHCs in every county, NAFC volunteer clinics in major metros, NYC Health + Hospitals across the five boroughs, hospital Section 501(r) charity care reinforced by the state HFAL, NY Medicaid, the Essential Plan, and Child Health Plus, almost every New Yorker has at least one viable affordable option. For ongoing primary care without insurance, our guide to direct primary care explains how flat-fee monthly memberships work alongside the safety net. Neighboring states with comparable networks include New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

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, 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 provide a medical screening and stabilizing treatment regardless of your ability to pay, and ACA Section 501(r) charity care can apply to ER bills at nonprofit hospitals.

Sources

• HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) – Find a Health Center tool and the Health Center Program (FQHCs, sliding-fee scale, Section 330)
• KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) – New York Medicaid and Essential Plan (Basic Health Program) enrollment data and the enhanced ACA subsidy debate
• NY State of Health – Medicaid, Essential Plan (expanded to 250% of the poverty level, effective 2024), and Child Health Plus eligibility and enrollment