The cold and flu season has led to a surge in medical visits, with millions affected by influenza and COVID-19 cases rising. Despite the challenges, several clinics in Greater Cincinnati offer accessible healthcare services, ensuring everyone receives the care they need regardless of insurance status.

Discover Lifesaving Care Without Breaking the Bank

Public Health Departments: A Gateway to Free Services

Health departments in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky serve as vital resources for free healthcare. Beyond restaurant inspections, these departments provide essential services such as vaccinations and infection testing. In Northern Kentucky, the health department operates four centers offering comprehensive care, while Ohio’s Hamilton, Butler, and Clermont counties also extend similar benefits. Some facilities require appointments, so it's wise to check their procedures online before visiting.

Healing Center: Holistic Support for Families

Located in Springdale, the Healing Center is a nonprofit that offers more than just medical assistance. It provides a range of services including a clothing closet, food pantry, and community resource connections. The center partners with University of Cincinnati medical students to run a free clinic every Saturday morning, treating common illnesses like flu, fever, and minor injuries. Non-English speakers can also benefit from available interpreters. Additionally, partnerships with Life Forward offer consultations, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, vision screenings, and blood pressure checks, among other services.

Primary Health Solutions: Comprehensive Care for All

Serving Southwest Ohio, Primary Health Solutions is a safety-net provider with multiple locations across Butler County and Dayton. This nonprofit offers a wide array of services, from primary care and dental treatments to chiropractic, vision, women’s health, mental health, and pharmacy services. Patients can visit walk-in urgent care centers in Middletown and Hamilton. The sliding pay scale ensures affordability based on income and insurance status, making healthcare accessible to everyone.

HealthCare Connection: Bridging Gaps in Northern Hamilton County

Founded in 1967, HealthCare Connection initially aimed to address the lack of medical professionals in Lincoln Heights, then the largest self-governed Black municipality without physicians or dentists. Today, it operates several locations in northern Hamilton County, providing primary care, pediatrics, dental, women’s health, behavioral health, and pharmacy services. Four school-based health centers cater to students at Princeton, Mount Healthy, Lockland high schools, and Winton Woods South Campus. Appointments are necessary, and multilingual support is available for Spanish and French-speaking patients.

Nurse Advocacy Center: Empowering the Underserved

Northern Kentucky University’s Nurse Advocacy Center for the Underserved focuses on reducing health disparities. Located in Covington, this clinic primarily serves people experiencing homelessness, living in poverty, or lacking insurance. Even those with insurance can receive health education and referral services. Registered nurses and students work tirelessly to ensure everyone has access to quality healthcare. For more information, call 859-572-6342.

Good Samaritan Free Health Center: Philanthropy in Action

Tri-Health’s Good Samaritan Free Health Center in East Price Hill provides fully philanthropically funded care for adults. Eligibility criteria include being over 18, residing in Hamilton County, lacking private insurance but ineligible for Medicaid, and having an income below 200% of the poverty level. The clinic offers primary care, physicals, dental, vision, women’s health, mental health, and more. Patient hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, accommodating both scheduled appointments and walk-ins.

Cincinnati Health Centers: Neighborhood Access Points

The Cincinnati Health Department manages numerous public health centers throughout the city’s 52 neighborhoods. These centers offer both scheduled visits and walk-ins, ensuring no one is turned away due to lack of insurance. Services include primary care, dental, and pharmacy services. Appointments can be made via the central scheduling line at 513-357-7320, and location details are available on the health department’s website.

St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy: Medication Assistance

For residents of Hamilton, Warren, Butler, and Clermont counties, St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy provides no-cost prescription medications as a last resort. Eligibility requires living within these specified counties, having a household income under 300% of the Federal Poverty Level, and either lacking health insurance or having unaffordable co-pays. The pharmacy offers medication therapy management, health screenings for hypertension and diabetes, flu shots, and enrollment in assistance programs. With three locations, including two at St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores, this service ensures that everyone has access to essential medications.