How to Access a Health Center

Not everybody has equal access to health-care services and the medical attention that they need, which is why health centers are valuable assets for the general public. The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration explains that a health center is a community-based medical organization that provides health-care services to people who have limited access to medical services. People who reside in rural towns, have a low income, are uninsured or who have limited proficiency with the English language are candidates for receiving health-care services at health centers.

Instructions

• 1

  Look for a health center in your community. Browse local magazines or newspapers for health-center advertisements, or visit the nearest hospital and ask someone for help locating a health center. Hospitals typically have information on the medical resources in the community. If language barriers exist, ask others who speak your native language if they know of any health centers. If you have access to the Internet, visit the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration website to locate health centers in your community.

• 2

  Contact the health center when you locate one. Ask about requirements to qualify for its services. Some health centers may only accept patients who are on Medicaid or Medicare, or they may be for children or adults only. Tell them your age and health insurance status to see if you are an eligible candidate for care.

• 3

  Inquire about the types of services they offer. Ask if the heath center specializes in anything, such as behavioral health or reproductive health. In addition, find out what types of payment plans they offer, and, if you do not have insurance, how you will be billed for the medical services.

• 4

  Set up an initial appointment at the health center. You will need to complete intake paperwork, so find out ahead of time what types of documents the office will need to see, such as your driver's license or medical insurance card. Be prepared to fill out a lot of paperwork when you arrive, such as a new patient questionnaire and health assessment.

• 5

  Arrive at your scheduled appointment at the health center. Personnel will walk through the steps with you for completing the paperwork. Depending on the policy of the health center, this may be an administrative meeting only, meaning you will not see a doctor at this initial visit. Once your application is complete, the health center will determine if you are an acceptable patient for its specific program, based on age, income and your medical needs.