#FriendofNYCFC | Volunteer-run NYC Free Clinic for uninsured patients

"Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thank you for being a #FriendofNYCFreeClinic. If you are visiting this page it is because someone you know and care about is learning the medicine to be an exceptional physician while learning that medicine is a social justice issue. Your generous donations carry on a tradition of philanthropy that has provided free medical care to thousands of uninsured New Yorkers for more than a decade.

The New York City Free Clinic (NYCFC) provides free primary care to patients who do not have insurance. NYU Grossman School of Medicine and The Institute for Family Health form an all-volunteer team of students and healthcare professionals that care for the uninsured, homeless, and disenfranchised of New York. NYCFC believes that high-quality healthcare is the right of all individuals, and any uninsured adult is eligible for care.

The clinic provides a full range of primary care services at no cost, including lab work, specialty referrals, and patient education. Case management is also provided to all patients to ensure that they are connected to essential social services such as public health insurance and prescription assistance.

A highlight of NYCFC’s model is its commitment to cover specialty care for all of its patients. When referred to Bellevue Hospital for outpatient specialty services, patients are assured that their bills will be paid for by NYCFC. This guarantee gives patients access to consultations that are critical for managing complex medical needs. 

COVID-19 has impacted our nation as a whole, and in particular, individuals who are historically marginalized. NYCFC has struggled since the start of the pandemic to be able to provide critical healthcare services to the uninsured and disparately impacted populations of NYC. NYCFC’s annual in-person fundraiser was postponed indefinitely due to safety concerns, but with approximately 1000 patient visits per year, a lack of adequate funding threatens our capacity to serve our patients. 

Now, more than ever, we are in need of your support and donations to help continue the critical care provided by our clinic. But just how much benefit does a donation provide? With your help, a donation of $15 can cover the cost of a trip to the ER for patients in distress. A $20 donation can account for critical specialty office visits and appointments for patients. For those able to contribute more, a donation of $250 will cover the cost of one outpatient ambulatory surgery and generous donations of $1000 can provide a Long Acting Reversible Contraceptive device to patients who could not afford them otherwise. With your help, NYCFC can provide integral care to those most deeply impacted by COVID-19.