Medical Care for Undocumented Alien in Los Angeles

July 15, 2024 8:30 PM

I'm a therapist in training who worked with a new client today in need of a full checkup and dental work. He's lived in Los Angeles 20-25 years and cannot remember ever being in a doctors office. Only ER trips, Curious to see what I can find regarding free medical and dental services for him in the Los Angeles area. He lives in east county near Chino
posted by goalyeehah to Human Relations (10 answers total)

Not close to Chino, but I did find this event for free UCLA health care services at a local library. More and more often I find information of this nature posted on the physical bullet boards of local libraries, community centers, recreation centers, senior centers, and city services offices, so that can be a place to look.

My health insurance provider also sponsors Community Resource Centers around the area. Not direct healthcare but health adjacent along with various classes and social services, all free and open to the public. The closest location would be in Pomona. I visited my local Center for the first time last week and found the the staff to be nice. Based on the services they provide, I expect them to be potentially dialled in to further services and information.
posted by Goblin Barbarian at 10:09 PM on July 15

St. John's Community Health offers medical and dental clinics for low-income people. On my phone right now, so can't easily post the link, but I believe they're in LA and San Bernardino.
posted by socialjusticeworrier at 10:14 PM on July 15

Also worth noting that starting this year, California expanded Medi-Cal to adults regardless of immigration status. Your client may qualify for free or low cost health care coverage through the state. The Pomona location listed above may be able to help with getting your client signed up for Medi-Cal.
posted by Goblin Barbarian at 10:26 PM on July 15 [12 favorites]

Yeah I'd reach out to DPSS and DHS, but more directly you should call Supervisor Solis and ask for her constituent services staff to help you get a solution to this.

If you can't get through or get any leads, you can MeMail me and I can help try to figure out what might be available.
posted by kensington314 at 10:51 PM on July 15 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Federally Qualified Health Centers "provide comprehensive, federally-supported health care services to all people, regardless of insurance status, immigration status, or income." Billing is income-adjusted so often free. Here's a list of all centers in the LA area.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 6:16 AM on July 16 [4 favorites]

Please, please eliminate the habit of referring to undocumented people as "aliens" before you start practicing. This is dehumanizing language that is incompatible with providing good, culturally competent support for immigrants.
posted by wormtales at 6:36 AM on July 16 [9 favorites]

Best answer: My experience has been that FQHCs will ask about immigration status (and household income and, and, and). They're trying to figure out if you'd qualify for SNAP or Medicaid and whatever else, but I can imagine it may spook someone who's undocumented if they're not warned in advance that it's likely to happen.
posted by hoyland at 6:49 AM on July 16 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I work with Medi-Cal and uninsured clients in California. The FQHCs/health centers are likely going to be most helpful, in that they're generally also getting funding to help people get Medi-Cal and other benefits. (And yeah, "alien" is a really old term that's not used by people who support immigrants/immigration any more.)
posted by lapis at 7:56 AM on July 16 [3 favorites]

Beach cities health district keeps a list of resources that's pretty helpful for Los Angeles. You can also call with local area questions like this and they are happy to help.
posted by AlexiaSky at 2:29 PM on July 16

Best answer: In my area (not California) there is a FQHC in my neighborhood that also has a dental clinic (not all do). I know an undocumented person who receives health and dental treatment at this facility. Not all FQHC dental facilities offer treatment as well as cleaning/x-rays.

There is some payment required, but this patient can afford it. Good luck to your client, and thank you for trying to find help for him.
posted by citygirl at 7:31 PM on July 16 [2 favorites]