By: Jennifer DePaul

Until an affordable public health care option is offered, many young Americans remain uninsured and unable to pay the high cost of healthcare insurance. As youth scramble to find alternative healthcare options and steer clear of the doctor’s office, there is one option many may not be aware of—free/low-cost/sliding scale walk-in clinics.

There are 8,692 such clinics nationwide and approximately 4,000 more unaccounted for, according to the non-profit NeedyMeds. The organization which started in 1997 has an online database that provides a list of state and federal government sponsored clinics.

The National Association of Free Clinics, a non-profit organization, defines free clinics as ones that are volunteer-based, safety-net health care organizations that provide a range of medical, dental, pharmacy, and/or behavioral health services to economically disadvantaged individuals who are predominately uninsured.

“These clinics offer a range of services from basic and specialty care to a full spectrum of healthcare services,” said NeedyMeds President, Richard Sagall. A clinic’s volunteer base is often an indicator of the services provided.

Sagall said the demand for free clinics is growing. Some have been established for decades while others don’t survive more than one year. He said it’s hard to monitor the status of all of the clinics, but during the difficult economic period many are closing because of a lack of funding.

Most of the clinics are independently run and dedicate themselves to providing free or lost cost healthcare services.

“Others can be found in churches or existing hospitals where they are a training site for students,” Sagall said. Predominantly these free walk-in clinics are found in lower income areas of a city, he said.

Several weeks ago I found myself in a position where I needed a pre-employment physical. Unfortunately, I fall into the highest uninsured demographic in America, adolescents age 18 to 29. This small physical examination slowly turned into a big headache. The cost of an examination depends on the charge for professional time and any tests that are included, but typically they can run up to $200.

I started brainstorming all options that wouldn’t break the bank. After consulting my mother, who is an uninsured nurse, she recommended I visit the free walk-in clinic in Putney, Vermont. I had never heard of free clinics in America.

Desperate to try any low-cost healthcare service, I paid a visit to the Putney Community Clinic and was pleasantly surprised. The clinic only operates on Thursdays, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m so I arrived early to ensure a spot in the line. On this particular Thursday I was second in line and saw a doctor within 20 minutes. He reviewed my form and was able to provide me with required services at no cost.

The Putney Community Walk-In Health Clinic is a member of the Vermont Coalition of Clinics for the Uninsured (VCCU). This association of 10 free primary health care clinics and two dental clinics formed in 1995. They opened over the course of several years as a result of local initiatives, said Lynn Raymond-Emprey, Executive Director of the VCCU.

“In that way each of the free clinic programs in Vermont is designed with local resources and needs in mind,” Raymond-Emprey said.

Similar to most free clinics around the country, The Putney Community Walk-In Clinic is staffed by volunteers and is supported by community donations. They are indirectly supported by the federal government. They also receive revenue from local fund raising, patient donations, private foundations, and a state grant.

According to the NeedyMeds website, there are a total of 56 free walk-in clinics throughout Vermont.

There are several websites that may be useful for uninsured or underinsured individuals seeking medical care. The National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) provides a search engine to find clinics in each state. There is also a state and regional free clinic association listing available here.

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