Between monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs, paying for healthcare can be challenging even when you have insurance. Expenses can become overwhelming if you’re uninsured or underinsured.
The good news is that there are ways to access low-cost and free healthcare. This guide can help you find healthcare options that fit your budget.
Here are some ways to find more affordable healthcare:
Ask questions about prices up front. If you don’t have insurance or intend to self-pay, you can ask for a good faith estimate for healthcare services. Regardless of your insurance status, hospital price transparency about standard charges for services and items is required by law. This can help you determine prices in advance.
Look for low-cost providers and clinics. Some providers serve only people who don’t have insurance or are underinsured.
Research low-cost and free insurance options. Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) greatly reduce out-of-pocket costs for people who qualify. There are alternatives to Medicaid if you don’t qualify or lose Medicaid coverage. For example, many Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans are available for $10 or less per month with a subsidy.
GoodRx can save you money on prescription medications. It can also provide healthcare information and access to telehealth through GoodRx Care. You can use GoodRx whether or not you have insurance. (GoodRx coupons can’t be combined with insurance, but they can be used instead of insurance to pay less.)
There are also several other ways to afford prescription medications and vaccinations. Patient assistance programs (PAPs) help people who are uninsured or underinsured. PAPs may cover the full cost of a prescription or offer a discount.
Manufacturer copay cards can help lower your out-of-pocket medication costs when you have insurance. These cards are typically for brand-name medications with no generic options.
If you have Medicare Part D, you can access Extra Help and other savings programs. These may cut your out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions.
Some medications, such as Narcan, are free through state and local programs. If you don’t have insurance, you may be able to get free or low-cost adult vaccinations. This includes annual flu shots.
Affordable medical, dental, mental health, and pharmacy services are available on a sliding scale at community health centers and rural health clinics. Free or low-cost dental care is offered at dental schools.
If you have a low or moderate income, look into financial assistance programs and indigent care and charity care programs. These can cut or eliminate your costs at certain hospitals. Low-cost healthcare options are also available for undocumented immigrants.
Clinical trials are an often-overlooked source of free healthcare. You may even be compensated if you participate in a trial.
Free and low-cost cancer screenings are available in many places. You may also be able to access affordable treatment if you have cancer or a rare disease.
Telehealth has expanded free and low-cost mental health treatment options, including for PTSD. Many mental health support groups are free or low cost as well. Some veterans qualify for expanded healthcare benefits under the PACT Act.
Many healthcare devices, medical equipment, and wellness services have free and low-cost options. Several manufacturers offer free or low-cost blood glucometers (glucose meters). They may also offer discounts on diabetes test kits and supplies.
If you need durable medical equipment (DME), look for a DME loan program near you. These programs let you borrow equipment at no cost or for a small fee or deposit. You may have access to free or borrowed wigs if you’re having cancer treatment that causes hair loss.
Free or low-cost gym memberships are available through some health insurance plans. These include Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement (Medigap) plans.
There are several ways to access free and low-cost birth control. There are places to get free condoms in every state and Washington, D.C.
Free and low-cost pregnancy tests include over-the-counter options. These can cost as little as $1. Pregnancy tests are sold individually or in multipacks for less than $15 in retail stores and online.
Period poverty — when you can’t afford menstrual hygiene products — happens to many people. But there are places where you can find free tampons and other menstrual supplies.
One in three families in the U.S. with young children struggle to afford diapers. Food banks and diaper banks have free diapers and other essential baby items. There are also ways to access free and low-cost breast milk.
Having the resources to provide for basic needs such as food is essential to health and wellness. Internet service is also important in healthcare access, given the rise of telehealth.
If you have a low income, you may qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as food stamps. SNAP benefits can be used at grocery stories, farmers markets, and other places that sell food. There is a separate Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for kids under age 5 and pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may offer cash benefits if you have a low income and are 65 or older. You may be eligible for SSI at any age if you are blind or have another qualifying disability. If you are eligible for Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, SSI, or other federal benefits, you might qualify for free or low-cost internet service.
Medicaid is a joint state-federal program for people with low incomes. You must be a resident of the state or U.S. territory where you apply. Whether you qualify for Medicaid is based on your income and can be based on your condition. Income requirements vary by state and depend on whether your state expanded Medicaid under the ACA.
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people ages 65 and older. Younger people with certain disabilities and conditions are also eligible. The main costs of Medicare are premiums as well as copays and coinsurance when you receive care or medications. Most people don’t pay a premium for Medicare Part A, which provides hospital insurance. For Medicare Part B, most people will pay a $185 monthly premium in 2025. Part B provides medical insurance. Prices vary for Medicare Advantage (Part C), which is a private alternative for Parts A and B. Medicare Part D, which provides prescription drug coverage, costs $40 to $50 a month in 2025 on average. You’ll pay an extra premium if you have original Medicare and add a Medigap supplement plan.
They can be, depending on your income and the size of your premium subsidy. For the 2025 coverage year, 4 out of 5 ACA plans will have a premium of $10 or less per month. But your out-of-pocket costs when you access care can vary. Typically, the lower the premium, the higher the out-of-pocket costs. Plans with higher premiums usually have lowest out-of-pocket costs.
Yes, there are ways to get free and low-cost vaccinations for pets. Some animal shelters, nonprofit organizations, and veterinary schools offer vaccines at low or no cost. You can also use GoodRx to save on your pet’s prescription medications.
KFF. (2025). Status of state Medicaid expansion decisions.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). State profiles. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Help with drug costs. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.