Finding low-cost care
Care exists for everyone, whatever your income or status — but it is scattered, and nobody hands you the map. This is the map.
First: check what you qualify for
- Medi-Cal now covers income-eligible adults of all ages regardless of immigration status, and children. Full coverage at no or very low cost. If you have not checked since 2024, check again. Health Navigation will help you apply.
- Covered California subsidised plans for incomes above the Medi-Cal limits.
- Pregnancy and emergency care are covered regardless of status.
- My Health LA — Los Angeles County's program for uninsured residents who do not qualify for Medi-Cal, giving access to county clinics and hospitals.
Community health centers
Federally qualified health centers serve everyone regardless of status or ability to pay, charge on a sliding scale based on income, and offer primary care, dental, mental health, pharmacy, women's health and often interpreters in Spanish, French and other languages. Los Angeles County has dozens. Find one near you with the federal health center locator (findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov) or ask us. Register before you need them; the first visit is easier when you are not sick.
County clinics and hospitals
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services runs hospitals (LAC+USC, Harbor-UCLA, Olive View, Rancho Los Amigos) and health centers across the county. Financial screening is done at registration; ask for it.
Free clinics
Community organisations, faith groups and medical schools run free clinics with limited hours. They are excellent for check-ups, chronic-condition follow-up and referrals. We keep a list by area.
Dental
Dental is the care most often skipped. Community health centers and dental-school clinics (UCLA, USC, Western University) offer low-cost care; Medi-Cal includes dental for adults and children.
Mental health
Community health centers, county mental health services (the LA County Department of Mental Health has a 24/7 helpline), and community organisations offer counselling at low or no cost, in many languages. If someone is in immediate danger call 911; for a mental-health crisis you can also call or text 988.
Urgent care versus the emergency room
- Emergency room: chest pain, trouble breathing, severe bleeding, stroke signs, serious injury, a child who is very unwell. ERs must treat and stabilise anyone regardless of ability to pay. They are also the most expensive door in the system.
- Urgent care: infections, cuts needing stitches, sprains, fevers, when the clinic is closed. A fraction of the cost.
- Your clinic: everything else, and the follow-up after any of the above.
Prescriptions
Ask for generics and the cash price; use free discount programs; use community health center pharmacies; never buy from unlicensed sources.
Questions to ask at any clinic
- Do you have a sliding-scale fee, and what documents do you need for it?
- Do you have an interpreter in my language, or a phone interpreter?
- Do you help with Medi-Cal applications?
- What does a first visit cost with no insurance?
How the Foundation helps
- Checking what you qualify for and applying with you.
- Finding the right clinic near you, in your language.
- Going with you, or arranging a volunteer to, for a first visit when that helps.
- Reviewing any bill that follows.
Need help today?
Free, confidential, in your language. Or fund the next family's relief.