Skip to main content
Black Health logo Black Health

Free & Low-Cost Community Health Centers in Des Moines, IA

14 free and low-cost community health centers in Des Moines, 14 with sliding-scale fees, 14 accepting Medicaid.

Primary Health Care - Pharmacy

FQHC

Operated by Primary Health Care, Inc

1200 University Ave STE 105
Des Moines, IA 50314-2355
Sliding scale Uninsured OK Medicaid

Services: Behavioral health, Dental, Enabling services, OB/GYN & maternal health, On-site pharmacy…

515-262-0854 Full details →

Every clinic above sees patients regardless of insurance, and that is the right first stop. A same-day telehealth visit is self-pay and is not billed to Medicaid, so the sliding scale usually costs less. If you need to talk to a clinician today and cannot get in:

A same-day online urgent care visit with a licensed clinician for common infections and illnesses. Prices are shown before you book; visits start at $34 and vary by clinician and location (checked August 2026).

Affiliate

Sliding-scale care in Des Moines: what the numbers say

Every center listed provides care regardless of your insurance status, with fees set by your income, so a visit costs less, or nothing, when you earn less. Bring a photo ID and proof of income to your first visit, and ask whether they can enroll you in Medicaid or marketplace coverage the same day.

Of the 14 centers listed in Des Moines, 14 offer sliding-scale fees, 14 accept Medicaid, and 14 treat uninsured patients. Call ahead to confirm new-patient availability and bring photo ID and proof of income (a paystub or self-declaration). FQHC patient navigators can enroll you in Medicaid or marketplace coverage the same day you are seen.

Services available in Des Moines

  • Enabling services (14 centers)
  • Primary care (12 centers)
  • Behavioral health (11 centers)
  • Dental (8 centers)
  • On-site pharmacy (8 centers)
  • OB/GYN & maternal health (7 centers)
  • Substance-use treatment (7 centers)
  • Pediatrics (6 centers)

Free screening programs in Des Moines

Free mammograms Free pap smears Free colonoscopies Free heart screenings Free diabetes prevention Free STD testing

Common questions

Do community health centers in Des Moines accept Medicaid?

14 of the 14 centers listed accept Medicaid. Federally funded health centers also treat uninsured patients and charge on a sliding scale based on household income.

Is there a free or low-cost clinic in Des Moines?

14 of the 14 centers listed offer sliding-scale fees. Bring photo ID and proof of income to your first visit.

What services do Des Moines community health centers offer?

Services at the centers listed include Enabling services, Primary care, Behavioral health, Dental, On-site pharmacy.

Clinics in nearby cities

Urbandale, IA (1)

Looking for a Black doctor in Des Moines?

Community health centers take you regardless of coverage. If you also want a clinician who shares your background, our provider directory lists Black doctors, therapists, dentists, and doulas in Des Moines with specialty and insurance filters.

Black doctors in Des Moines

Know a Des Moines clinic we're missing?

We grow the directory through community submissions and verified listings.

Submit a clinic