What is The Safety Net? Here’s How This List of Michigan Health Care Clinics Support the Uninsured

Affordability,Physical Health,Whole Person Health

What is The Safety Net? Here’s How This List of Michigan Health Care Clinics Support the Uninsured

08.04.2025 | 8 min read

Key Takeaways

Safety net health care centers provide care to the uninsured and underinsured regardless of their ability to pay.
They provide preventive care to vulnerable populations who may not otherwise be able to afford it.
BCBSM has invested more than $17 million in Strengthening the Safety Net grants over the last 20 years to increase access to affordable health care in Michigan.
The BCBSM "Help with Health Care" brochure includes a list of safety net clinics that offer free or low-cost medical, dental, mental health and vision care.

Preventive care plays a pivotal role in keeping individuals healthy and out of an expensive health care system. Safety net clinics provide preventive care to vulnerable populations who may not otherwise be able to afford it.

A safety net health care facility is a type of medical center that provides care to the uninsured and underinsured regardless of their ability to pay. They sometimes charge sliding-scale fees based on income. They are designed to catch the individuals who fall through the cracks of the health care system, like a safety net.

They also help to keep people out of high cost settings like emergency rooms and urgent care clinics. They include organizations such as free clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).

Blue Cross has supported safety net organizations for 20 years

Since 2005, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has invested more than $17 million in Strengthening the Safety Net grants to increase access to affordable health care in Michigan and improve health outcomes. These grants support nearly 50 clinics each year and have helped more than 250,000 uninsured and underinsured residents access care.

If safety net clinics weren’t around in Michigan, some individuals would have no place to turn for essential health care. Think about a person with diabetes, for example, who becomes ineligible for Medicaid next year after relying on it to access necessary health care. He needs to receive regular A1C testing and screenings for complications. This person may have to turn to a safety net clinic to receive the life-changing care he requires.

Struggling to pay for health care can be incredibly stressful. The physical and mental toll caused by serious medical episodes can be compounded by a debilitating financial burden when someone who is uninsured has no choice but to pay out of pocket at an urgent care center or emergency room. Safety net clinics, like those supported by Blue Cross, work to ease the physical, mental and financial woes of vulnerable populations in Michigan communities.

How to access Michigan’s safety net clinics

Blue Cross has created a helpful tool to assist individuals and families in understanding how to access free or low-cost health coverage. Our Help with Health Care brochure includes a list of safety net clinics that offer free or low-cost medical, dental, mental health and vision care as well as helpful information on how to use health care coverage and access resources for taking care of their physical and mental health. The Help with Health Care brochure is available by region and can be accessed by visiting the website or requesting a printed copy by emailing socialmission@bcbsm.com

Free safety net clinics in Michigan

This list of free or low-cost safety net clinics in Michigan – categorized by county – is also available on the Free & Charitable Clinics of Michigan (FCOM) website. The listing, categorized by county, includes FCOM member clinics as well as others from around the state.

Allegan

Renewed Hope Health Clinic

Address: 894 Marshall St., Allegan, 49010
Phone: (269) 355-3053

Bay

Helen M. Nickless Volunteer Clinic

Address: 1460 W. Center Road, Essexville, 48732
Phone: (989) 895-4830

Branch

Presbyterian Health Clinic of Branch Co.

Address: 15 Church St., Coldwater, 49036
Phone: (517) 278-6068

Calhoun

Fountain Clinic

Address: 111 N Jefferson St. Suite 1 Marshall, 49068
Phone: (269) 781-0952

Charlevoix

Boyne Area Free Clinic

Address: 624 State St., Boyne City, 49712
Phone: (231) 582-4605

Cheboygan

Northern Care Center

Address: 117 W. State St., Cheboygan, 49721
Phone: (231) 333-3019

Crawford

Grayling Community Health Center

Address: 1250 E Michigan Ave., Grayling, 49738
Phone: (989) 348-0740

Dickinson

Carefree Dental of Florence and Dickinson Co.

Address: 500 S. Stephenson, Iron Mountain, 49801
Phone: (906) 369-7901

Genesee

Carriage Town Ministries

Address: 605 Garland St., Flint, 48503
Phone: (810) 233-8787

Genesee County Free Medical Clinic

Address: 2437 Welch Blvd., Flint, 48504
Phone: (810) 235-4211

Muslim Outreach Free Clinic (for Genessee County residents only)

Address: 1301 Flushing, Flint, 48504
Phone: (810) 762-1012

The Luke Clinic

Address: 2210 N. Franklin Ave., Flint, 48506
Phone: (866) 458-5352

The Luke Project 52 Clinic

Address: 3404 S. Saginaw, Flint, 48503
Phone: (810) 252-0464

Hillsdale

St. Peter's Free Clinic of Hillsdale County

Address: 3 North Broad St., Hillsdale, 49242
Phone: (517) 437-4041

Huron (Also serving Lapeer, Sanilac, and Tuscola counties)

Caring Heart Medical Clinic

2750 Main St., PO Box 294, Marlette, 48453
Phone: (989) 635-1442

Ingham

Care Free Medical, Dental and Optometry

Address: 1100 W. Saginaw St., Suite 5, Lansing, 48915
Phone: (517) 887-5922

Cristo Rey Family Health Center

Address: 1717 N. High St., Lansing, 48906
Phone: (517) 372-4700

His Healing Hands

Address: 2025 W. Holmes Road, Lansing, 48910
Phone: (517) 882-0056

Isabella

CMU College of Medicine Street Medicine

Address: 1632 Stone St., Saginaw, 48602
Phone: (989) 746-7504

Jackson

St. Luke's Clinic

Address: 132 Seymour Ave., Jackson, 49204
Phone: (517) 783-1117

Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo Gospel Mission Health Clinic

Address: 448 N. Burdick St., Kalamazoo, 49007
Phone: (269) 345-2974

Helping Hands Wellness Center

Address: 310 W. Rose St., Kalamazoo, 49007
Phone: (269) 993-1362

Kent

Baxter Community Center - Holistic Health Clinic

Address: 935 Baxter St. SE, Grand Rapids, 49506
Phone: (616) 456-5310

Oasis of Hope Center

Address: 522 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids, 49504
Phone: (616) 451-8868

Catherine's Health Center

Address: 1211 Lafayette Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, 49505
Phone: (616) 336-8800

Exalta Health

Address: 2060 Division S., Grand Rapids, 49507
Phone: (616) 475-8446

Grand Valley Physical Therapy Community Outreach

Address: 72 Sheldon Blvd. E, Grand Rapids, 49505
Phone: (616) 331-9830

Mel Trotter Ministries

Address: 225 Commerce Ave., Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: (616) 454-8249

Livingston

University of Michigan Student Run Free Clinic

Address: 103 E. Main St., Pinckney, 48169
Phone: (734) 680-0804

VINA Community Dental Center

Address: 400 E. Grand River Ave., Brighton, 48116
Phone: (810) 844-0240

Macomb

Trinity Community Care

Address: 47511 Van Dyke Ave, Shelby Township, 48317
Phone: (586) 649-3014

VietMD Clinic

Address: 26256 VanDyke, Shelby Township, 48317
Phone: (586) 775-1313, ext. 237

Neighbors Caring for Neighbors

Address: 15420 19 Mile, Suite 200, Clinton Twp., 48038
Phone: (586) 649-6105

McLaren Macomb Medical Foundation

Address: 36500, Gratiot Ave., Suite 202, Clinton Township, 48035
Phone: (586) 493-3727

Mecosta

Hope House Free Medical Clinic

Address: 405 Third St., Big Rapids, 49307
Phone: (231) 598-9500

Midland

Gateway Health Center

Address: 600 Cambridge St., Ste. 1, Midland, 48642
Phone: (989) 259-1000

Oakland

Centro Multicultural La Familia (referral service)

Address: 35 W. Huron, Pontiac, 48161
Phone: (248) 858-7800

Crossroads Care Center

Address: 3205 South Blvd., Auburn Hills, 48326
Phone: (248) 293-0070

Dermhouse

Address: 29355 NW Hwy Ste. 302 Southfield, 48034
Phone: (248) 219-7007

Dr. Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic

Address: 45580 Woodward Ave., Pontiac, 48341
Phone: (248) 309-3752

FernCare Free Clinic, Inc.

Address: 751 E. 9 Mile Road, Suite 2, Ferndale, 48220
Phone: (248) 677-2273

Mercy Place Clinic

Address: 55 Clinton St., Pontiac, 48342
Phone: (248) 333-0840

MAPI Clinic

Address: 28235 Southfield Road, Lathrup Village, 48076
Phone: (248) 327-6748

Tri-County Dental Health (referral service)

Address: 455580 Woodward, Pontiac, 48341
Phone: (248) 559-7767

Ogemaw

Ogemaw Hills Community of Caring

Address: 2106 South Gray Road, West Branch, 48661
Phone: (989) 345-7880

Ottawa

City on a Hill Ministries Health Clinic

Address: 100 S. Pine St., Suite 140, Zeeland, 49464
Phone: (616) 748-6009

Holland Free Health Clinic

Address: 99 W. 26th St., Holland, 49423
Phone: (616) 392-3610

Love in Action Health and Dental Clinic

Address: 326 N. Ferry St., Grand Haven, 49417
Phone: (616) 846-2701

Shiawassee

Shiawassee Free Medical Clinic

Address: 802 West King St., Suite K, Owosso, 48867
Phone: (877) 351-1469

St. Clair

People’s Clinic for Better Health

Address: 2601 Electric Ave., Port Huron, 48060
Phone: (810) 216-1500

Hope Medical Clinic, Inc.

Address: 518 Harriet St., Ypsilanti, 48198
Phone: (734) 481-0111

Wayne

Ann Mare' Ice Pediatric Health Center

Address: 23077 Greenfield #200, Southfield, 48075
Phone: (313) 824-1000
Email: info@authorityhealth.org

ACC Community Health Center

Address: 13840 W. Warren Ave., Dearborn, 48126
Phone: (313) 846-8156

Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services

Address: 9708 Dix Ave., Dearborn, 48120
Phone: (313) 842-0700

Dames & Knights of the Order of Malta Dental Clinic

Address: 10301 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 48202
Phone: (313) 894-2240

C-Asist

Address: 23100 Cherry Hill St., Dearborn, 48124
Phone: (313) 670-9943

Cass Clinic

Address: 3901 Cass Ave., Detroit, 48201
Phone: (313) 883-2277

SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic

Address: 1355 Oakman Blvd., Detroit, 48238
Phone: (313) 758-6100

Corktown Health Clinic

Address: 1726 Howard St., Detroit, 48216
Phone: (313) 832-3300

Street Outreach Teams

Email: streetoutreachteams@gmail.com

Hope Family Health Center

Address: 12121 Broadstreet Ave., Detroit, 48204
Phone: (313) 824-1000
Email: info@authorityhealth.org

Hope Medical Clinic, Inc.

Address: 33608 Palmer Rd., Westland, 48186
Phone: (734) 710-6688

HUDA Clinic

Address: 13240 Woodrow Wilson St., Detroit, 48238
Phone: (313) 865-8446

iAMeRICA Center

Address: 19451 W. Warren Ave., Detroit, 48228
Phone: (313) 307-0088
Email: info@iamericacenter.com

Malta Dental and Medical Clinic

Address: 8642 Woodward Ave. Detroit, 48202
Phone: (313) 288-2362

Mercy Primary Care

Address: 5555 Conner St. #2691 Detroit, 48213
Phone: (313) 692-8400

Popoff Family Health Center

Address: 10809 Mack Ave., Detroit, 48214
Phone: (313) 824-1000
email: info@authorityhealth.org

Robert R. Frank Student Run Clinic

Address: 1234 Porter, Detroit, 48226
Phone: (313) 444-5490

S.A.Y. Family Health Clinic

Address: 211 Glendale, Highland Park, 48203
Phone: (313) 758-6100

St. Francis Cabrini Clinic

Address: 1234 Porter, Detroit, 48226
Phone: (313) 961-7863

The Luke Clinic

Address: 7354 Whitaker, Detroit, 49209
Phone: (313) 789-7862

Wyandotte Clinic for the Working Uninsured

Address: 3333 Biddle Ave., Suite A, Wyandotte, 48192
Phone: (734) 365-3560

Wexford

Stehouwer Free Clinic

Address: 803 Lynn St., Cadillac, 49601
Phone: (231) 876-6150

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