Blue Cross Opens Doors to Free and Low-Cost Health Care
by Blues Perspectives
| 2 min read
Finding health care can feel difficult – especially if you don’t have health insurance or have insurance with limited coverage. Health care – and mental health care – can also be costly for many households. These barriers are all too common – and can cause people to delay seeking care until serious complications develop. For people in Michigan seeking care for physical and mental health concerns, free and low-cost clinics are located in communities across the state that are ready to help. These clinics offer services both directly and through community partners. The services often include:
- Medical care
- Screenings for lead and chronic conditions
- Immunizations
- Women, Infants and Children (WIC) services
- Food assistance
- Dental care
- Mental health care
These clinics are funded in part by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s Strengthening the Safety Net program, which has provided more than $18 million in grants to clinics across the state since 2005. Removing barriers to accessing health care is good for everyone. When individuals have steady access to health care, it can improve their outcomes, reduce disparities and lower health care costs. It’s also good for families, for communities; for workforces and for the health care system as a whole. Here are the most recent recipients of the Blue Cross Strengthening the Safety Net grants, which will assist approximately 65,000 individuals this year.
| Clinic Name | City |
| Renewed Hope Health Clinic | Allegan |
| Hope House Free Medical Clinic | Big Rapids |
| Boyne Area Free Clinic | Boyne City |
| VINA Community Dental Center | Brighton |
| Stehouwer Free Clinic | Cadillac |
| Northern Care Center | Cheboygan |
| McLaren Macomb Medical Outreach Clinic | Clinton Twp. |
| Presbyterian Health Clinic of Branch County | Coldwater |
| Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services | Dearborn |
| ACC Community Health Center | Dearborn |
| C-ASIST | Dearborn |
| Cabrini Clinic | Detroit |
| Corktown Health Clinic | Detroit |
| Cass Clinic | Detroit |
| Dames and Knights of the Order of Malta Dental Clinic | Detroit |
| The Health Unit on Davidson Avenue – HUDA Clinic | Detroit |
| The Luke Project 52 Clinic | Detroit |
| Robert R. Frank Student-Run Clinic | Detroit |
| Helen M. Nickless Volunteer Clinic | Essexville |
| FernCare Free Clinic | Ferndale |
| Genesee County Free Medical Clinic | Flint |
| Love in Action of the Tri-Cities | Grand Haven |
| Baxter Community Center | Grand Rapids |
| Exalta Health | Grand Rapids |
| Mel Trotter Ministries | Grand Rapids |
| Oasis of Hope Center | Grand Rapids |
| St. Peter’s Free Clinic of Hillsdale County, Inc. | Hillsdale |
| Holland Free Health Clinic | Holland |
| St. Luke’s Clinic | Jackson |
| Care Free Medical | Lansing |
| Cristo Rey Family Health Center | Lansing |
| His Healing Hands | Lansing |
| MAPI Charitable Clinic: Michigan Association of Physicians of Indian Descent | Lathrup Village |
| Caring Heart Health Clinic | Marlette |
| Fountain Clinic | Marshall |
| Faith Works Medical | Monroe |
| Shiawassee Free Medical Clinic | Owosso |
| University of Michigan Student-Run Free Clinic | Pinckney |
| Centro Multicultural La Familia | Pontiac |
| Dr. Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic | Pontiac |
| People’s Clinic for Better Health | Port Huron |
| Trinity Community Care | Shelby Township |
| Ogemaw Hills Community of Caring | West Branch |
| Hope Medical Clinic | Westland |
| Wyandotte Clinic for the Working Uninsured | Wyandotte |
| Hope Medical Clinic | Ypsilanti |
| City on a Hill Ministries | Zeeland |
By eliminating barriers to health care for the uninsured and underinsured, Blue Cross is helping to move the needle toward better health outcomes for everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status. More from MIBluesPerspectives:
- The Role of Supportive Housing on Mental Health: ‘It’s My Own Haven’
- Our Role in Addressing Social Determinants of Health
- Neighbors Help Neighbors at Clinic for Uninsured in Bay City
Photo credit: Getty Images
