Access to Care

Access to Care is a primary health care program, also offering ancillary pharmacy, laboratory, and radiology services, that serves low-income uninsured individuals who are not eligible for public health insurance programs. The program serves residents of Cook County and northwest Chicago, Illinois. It is a unique public/private partnership that provides healthcare at a discounted annual enrollment fee, offering diagnosis and treatment for a small co-payment per visit, procedure, or prescription medication.

Access to Care is funded by donations and run by physician volunteers and providers paid at discounted rates. The program has been endorsed by the Institute of Medicine of Chicago, the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians, the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American College of Physicians/Northern Illinois Region and is supported by the Chicago Medical Society.

Access to Care aims to meet primary health care needs of low-income uninsured individuals.

Almost 400,000 residents of Cook County and northwest Chicago are uninsured. Access to Care serves 10,000 low-income individuals annually, and in its 20 year run thus far has served over 100,000 patients. With a minimal annual enrollment fee, eligible individuals may receive services such as basic doctor visits for $5, lab and x-ray services for $5 per procedure, and prescription medication at discounted rates.