What this is
A plain-language guide to getting medical care in Houston without health insurance -- sliding scale clinics, emergency room rights, prescription help, and mental health crisis resources.
Houston has one of the strongest safety-net health systems in the country. Harris Health operates Ben Taub Hospital and LBJ Hospital plus 18 community health centers across the county. If you do not have insurance, you can apply for Harris Health financial assistance -- called the Gold Card -- which covers doctor visits, lab work, prescriptions, and hospital stays on a sliding scale based on your income.
Federally Qualified Health Centers like Legacy Community Health and Avenue 360 Health and Wellness serve anyone regardless of ability to pay. Under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), every hospital with an emergency department must treat you in an emergency, period. The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD operates a 24/7 crisis line at 713-970-7000.
Why it matters
This is part of Our Health — health, wellness, and caring for each other.
How to dig in
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By the numbers
Led byCommunity Exchange
Counted from the Community Exchange connection graph.