In this directory:
- Free medical clinics
- Prescription, dental and vision assistance
- Community health centers
Note: These clinics are funded by donations and grants and depend primarily on volunteers. Many have limited hours, so call or visit their websites for further information.
* denotes a clinic affiliated with Volunteers in Medicine
Aiken
Community Medical Clinic of Aiken County*
244 Greenville St. NW
(803) 226-0631
Anderson
Anderson Free Clinic
414 N. Fant St.
(864) 226-1294
Beaufort
Good Neighbor Medical Clinic of Beaufort
30 Professional Village Circle
(843) 470-9088
Bluffton
Greater Bluffton Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine (Bluffton Clinic)*
1 Burnt Church Road
(843) 706-7090
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Greater Bluffton Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine (Ridgeland Clinic)*
11332 N. Jacob Smart Blvd.
Ridgeland, SC 29936
(843) 645-9090
Camden
Kershaw County Community Medical Clinic
110C E. DeKalb St.
(803) 713-0806
Charleston
Crisis Ministries, Inc.
573 Meeting St.
(843) 723-9477
Cheraw
Mercy in Me Free Medical Clinic
32 Foundry Hill Road
(843) 537-5288
Chester
Good Samaritan Medical Clinic
139 Church St.
(803) 385-6332
chesterfreedom.com/affiliations/clinic
Clemson
Clemson Free Clinic
1200 Clemson Blvd., Suite 1
(864) 654-8277
Clinton
Good Shepherd Free Medical Clinic of Laurens County*
245 Human Services Road
(864) 833-0017
Columbia
Christ Central Medical Care Center*
108 Park Terrace
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 832-7505
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Friendship Medical Clinic
1875 Harden St.
(803) 765-1503
Conway
Friendship House Clinic
1396 Highway 544
(843) 347-7178
www.friendshipmedicalclinic.org/
Darlington
Free Medical Clinic of Darlington County
203 Grove St.
(843) 398-0060
Hartsville satellite: (843) 332-0422
Easley
Samaritan Health Clinic of Pickens County
303 Dacusville Highway
(864) 855-0853, ext. 10
Edgefield
Peach Tree Medical Center
100 Ridge Medical Plaza Road
(803) 637-3630
Florence
Mercy Medicine Free Clinic
500 S. Coit St.
(843) 667-9947
Greenville
Greenville Free Medical Clinic
600 Arlington Ave.
(864) 232-1470
Satellites: Northwest Crescent, (864) 232-1470, ext. 60; Greer, (864) 232-1470, ext. 65; Golden Strip, (864) 232-1470, ext. 55
Greenwood
Community Initiatives, Inc. Free Clinic/Clinica Gratis
929 Phoenix St.
(864) 942-0500
communityinitiatives.us/clinica-gratis
Hilton Head Island
Volunteers in Medicine*
15 Northridge Drive
(843) 681-6612
Johns and Wadmalaw Islands
Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic*
3226 Maybank Highway
(843) 266-9800
Lexington
Med Mission
Various sites: Leesville, 326 E. Church St.; Cayce, 1819 Middleton St.; Gilbert, 1912 Pond Branch Road
(803) 530-8805
Mullins
Helping Hands Free Medical Clinic
518 S. Main St.
(843) 464-8750
helpinghandsfreemedicalclinic.org
Newberry
Free Medical Clinic of Newberry County*
2568 Kinard St.
(803) 276-6665
North Charleston
Dream Center Clinic
5505 N. Rhett Ave.
(843) 225-1115
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Harvest Free Medical Clinic
1670 Dry Dock Ave.
(843) 747-3526
Orangeburg
Orangeburg-Calhoun Free Medical Clinic
860 Holly St.
(803) 534-7200
orangeburgcalhounfreemedicalclinic.com
Pawley’s Island
Smith Medical Clinic, Inc.
116 Baskervill Drive
(843) 237-2672
Rock Hill
York County Free Clinic*
410 Oakland Avenue
(803) 366-6337
Seneca
Rosa Clark Medical Clinic
210 S. Oak St.
(864) 882-4664
Spartanburg
St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic
162 N. Dean St.
(864) 542-2273
Summerville
Community Impact for Christ
10505 Dorchester Road
(843) 697-9504
Taylors
Taylors Free Medical Clinic*
400 West Main St.
(864) 244-1134
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More free health resources
Most of the clinics listed in the directory offer a variety of services, including help with prescriptions, dental care and more. Here are some additional resources:
Prescriptions
Welvista is a nonprofit network of medical providers, clinics, pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies that helps thousands of uninsured South Carolinians get free prescription drugs. To see if you qualify, visit welvista.org or call (800) 763-0059.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance is a collaboration of pharmaceutical companies, health-care providers and advocacy organizations that helps uninsured and struggling patients find discount and free medication programs. For details, visit pparx.org or call (888) 477-2669.
Dental
Columbia Oral Health Clinic is a nonprofit clinic serving the uninsured and underinsured in the Midlands area. Visit columbiaoralhealthclinic.org or call (803) 779-4795.
Welvista: Smiles is a division of Welvista offering dental services to children from limited-income families. The program operates four school-based centers in Allendale, Dillon, Manning and Summerton, as well as a weekend center in Charleston. Visit welvista.org or call (803) 584-4803.
Other clinics: For a database of free dental clinics, visit the Family Service Center of South Carolina at fsconline.wordpress.com or call (803) 733-5450.
Vision
Vision USA provides basic vision-care services free of charge to uninsured, low-income people and their families. Visit aoa.org/visionusa.xml or call (800) 766-4466.
New Eyes for the Needy purchases new prescription eyeglasses for poor children and adults and recycles donated glasses for distribution to indigent people overseas. Visit neweyesfortheneedy.org or call (973) 376-4903.
EyeCare America is a public service foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Seniors, those with glaucoma or diabetes and children may be eligible for a referral to volunteer ophthalmologists. Visit eyecareamerica.org or call (800) 222-3937.
Lions Clubs provide financial assistance for eye care to individuals through local clubs. Services vary from club to club. Visit lionsclubs.org or call (630) 571-5466.
Sight for Students is a national network of community partners who provide free eye care to children of low-income working parents who do not qualify for government assistance. Visit sightforstudents.org or call (800) 290-4964.
Other resources
The Bureau of Primary Health Care, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources, maintains a searchable database of federally funded health-care centers that provide service to the uninsured. Visit hrsa.gov or call (877) 464-4772.
Children
Healthy Connections and Partners for Healthy Children, a program of the S.C. Department of Health and Human Services, offers health insurance programs for children from low-income families. Visit scdhhs.gov/.
Seniors
The National Council on the Aging: Benefits Checkup helps senior citizens with prescription drug, health-care and other benefit programs. Visit benefitscheckup.org.
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Community health centers
For the many people who don’t qualify for services at free clinics but still can’t afford health insurance, South Carolina’s non-profit Community Health Centers (CHCs) are the next best thing.
CHCs are community-based, nonprofit organizations that provide a variety of clinical services. They accept Medicaid, Medicare and most health insurance, but they also treat uninsured patients who pay for services on a sliding-scale based on income. Operating under the umbrella of South Carolina Primary Health Care (SCPHA), there are more than 20 CHC organizations offering services at 184 clinics throughout the state.
CHCs also receive funds from the federal government, says Todd Shifflet, director of community development at CareSouth, a CHC serving the Pee Dee region. "But even with those funds, there really is never enough because the need is so great and continues to grow every year,” he says.
For information on South Carolina’s CHCs and their clinic locations, visit scphca.org or call (800) 438-3895.