Healthcare without insurance — low-cost clinics

No insurance? You can still get care

Community health centers serve everyone:

• Fees based on your income (sliding scale — sometimes $20-40 per visit).
• They don’t ask about immigration status.
• Many have Spanish-speaking staff or free interpreters.
• Services: general visits, pediatrics, vaccines, dental and mental health (varies by clinic).

How to find the nearest one: use the official finder (link below) with your ZIP code. Ottumwa and southeast Iowa have active community centers; the ConectIowa directory will flag the ones with Spanish-speaking service.

Where to go, by situation

Situation	Where to go
Flu, pain, check-up, vaccines	Community clinic (appointment)
Urgent but not life-threatening (cut, high fever)	Urgent care (walk-in, cheaper than ER)
Life-threatening (chest, breathing, serious accident)	ER or call 911 — they must treat you regardless of papers or money

Help you should know about

• 211 Iowa: dial 211 — free guidance (Spanish available) on clinics, food, rent and more.
• Hawki / Medicaid for kids: many children qualify for free or low-cost insurance even if parents have no status.
• Proteus: free or low-cost healthcare for agricultural workers and their families.
• Pharmacies (Walmart, Hy-Vee) have generic medication lists from $4.

⚠️ Informational guide, not medical advice. In a real emergency, call 911.