Browse the Health Care General FAQs

1. I am a first time patient. When is your next available appointment?
2. I don't have insurance. What do I need to bring to use the sliding scale? (if applicable)
3. What else do I need to bring?
4. Should I arrive early?

For more information on how to be prepared for your appointment, read here.

Behavioral health includes therapy, psychiatry, and substance use treatment. We think that behavioral health is just as important as physical health. A majority of the clinics that we work with offer behavioral health services.

It's easy to wait for something to be wrong to take care of it, but yearly visits to your local clinic can help you identify problems before they become bigger (more expensive) issues.

• Primary Care - Once per year, this is where you go for regular check-ups and the doctor that you will have a regular relationship with (same as Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, General Practice)

• Dentist - Once per year

• Behavioral Health - We think physical and mental health are equally important. Developing a relationship with a therapist or counselor now is helpful for when life gets difficult.

All of the clinics that 504HealthNet work with are fully available to documented or undocumented immigrants. These clinics are safe, protected places where ICE is never allowed. If you don't have an ID, that's OK! If you have any doubts or questions about what you might need to bring to your appointment, ask via phone before you go in. All of the clinics have language lines or in‐person translation services available.

The clinics that 504HealthNet work with are best for pre‐planned, non‐emergency visits. Urgent Care or the ER is best for emergencies. At these clinics, you will likely be treated by the same doctor each time you go, and they will get to know you and your health. At an Urgent Care or ER, you will usually not see the same doctor twice. These clinics take all types of insurance and have discounted services for uninsured patients to ensure that care is affordable for everyone. Urgent Care or the ER tends to be more expensive, especially if you are uninsured.

*All of these clinics provide primary care, but not all clinics provide the other services, see map for details.*

• Primary Care (your regular doctor)
• Vision
• Dental
• Behavioral (therapists or counselors)
• Women's wellness
• They also coordinate referrals for you if you need specialty care at a hospital (x‐rays, additional testing, physical therapy, etc.) These clinics work hard to make sure that the care is affordable for everyone. This means that they offer discounted services for uninsured patients, and payment plans if the bill is still too big to pay all at once.

Every person is different, but a good place to start is with a physical. Scheduling a yearly check up will help you take charge of your health. If you're not sure what to ask for, just tell the person at the front desk or on the phone that you're looking for a wellness checkup.

Your relationship with your doctor should be as stong as your relationship with your teachers, religious leaders, and community leaders. Regular visits can also help you understand what is typical for you so when something feels wrong, your doctor can help you get back to normal.