Two Free Health Care Clinics in Chicago

While we are in the economic crisis it's nice to have the help we need. Especially since health insurance is so high in cost and those who can't afford health insurance don't qualify for Medicare, it's good to know that there are free health clinics around us. If you live in the Chicago area, there are at least two free health care clinics you can get help at.

CommunityHealth is a volunteer and non-profit organization that provides health care for free. CommunityHealth is recognized as a leader in free health care clinics nationwide and is the largest free clinic in Illinois. CommunityHealth is located at 2611 W. Chicago Ave. Hours of operation are Monday - Thursday 9am to 9pm. Friday 9am to 4:30pm and Saturday 9am to 1 pm. They are closed Sunday. In order to qualify to receive services here you must not have any form of medical insurance except for Medicare Part A and must meet income guidelines. Your income must be below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. For example, if you have a family of four you need to make less than $53,000 a year to qualify. To get an appointment you have to complete an In-Take form and there is no appointment needed for this. At the time of registration you need to bring a picture I.D., proof of address, medical records if seen anywhere in the last three years, and a proof of income. Same-day appointments are not available at this clinic. CommunityHealth offers free primary and specialty care, preventive health screenings, vaccinations, diagnostic testing, case management, and educational programs. To see a complete list of services and programs go to their website www.communityhealth.org.

St. Basil's Free People's Clinic is another free clinic Chicago has to offer. The Free People's Clinic is located at 1850 W. Garfield Blvd. They provide medical and dental care for free. Hours of operation are Monday 5pm to 9pm for medical and 6pm to 9pm for dental, Tuesday 4pm to 9pm for medical, Wednesday 4pm to 6:30pm for medical and 9:30am to 1pm and 6pm to 10pm for dental. Thursday 9am to noon and 1pm to 4 pm in the spring for dental, and Friday 10am to 2pm for dental. They are closed on weekends. In order to qualify for their services you need to have no form of medical insurance and provide proof of income. For medical care they provide a number of services, some include primary care, cardiology, and pediatric care. For dental care, some services provided are cleanings, fillings, and gum disease treatment. For a full list of services go to their website www.freepeoplesclinic.org. To make a medical appointment you need to call on Wednesdays between 10:30am and 1pm.