No Insurance in Denton County? 4 Clinics That Help
No insurance card in your wallet? A doctor's visit can still feel out of reach. But Denton County actually has four solid options for people who are uninsured, underinsured, or just tired of paying full price for a checkup. Some clinics run on a sliding scale. Others charge a flat, low fee. A few are built for one specific need, like vaccines or kids' care.
Here's where each one fits, what to bring, and the one mix-up that sends a lot of first-time callers to the wrong office.
Quick Answer: Where to Look First
- Health Services of North Texas (HSNT): Sliding-scale primary care, four Denton-area locations.
- First Refuge Ministries: $20 medical visits for qualifying uninsured Denton County residents.
- Denton County Public Health (DCPH): Immunizations, dental extractions, women's health, and STI/HIV testing.
- PediPlace: A dedicated medical home for uninsured, Medicaid, or CHIP kids, birth through 18.
- Indigent Health Care Program: County safety net for existing medical bills, not a walk-in clinic.
"Free" and "Affordable" Don't Always Mean the Same Thing
A clinic doesn't have to be free to be affordable. A $20 visit can be far less expensive than a $150 uninsured office visit. Sliding-scale pricing can lower the cost even further. Your bill shrinks as your income drops, based on household size and pay stubs. Free care exists too, but it's usually limited to a specific service, like a vaccine or an STI test, not a blanket policy across every clinic.
A quick check before you call can help you avoid going to the wrong office. A sliding-scale clinic wants income documents. A flat-fee clinic like First Refuge just wants you to show up qualified. And the county's Indigent Health Care office wants a medical bill you already owe, not a same-day symptom.
Compare Your Options at a Glance
| Clinic or Program | Best For | Cost Approach | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Services of North Texas | Primary care, chronic conditions, family medicine | Sliding fee scale, updated every April 1 | Four Denton locations |
| First Refuge Ministries | Low-income, uninsured Denton County residents | Flat $20 visit fee | 1701 Broadway St, Denton |
| Denton County Public Health | Vaccines, dental extractions, STI/HIV testing, women's health | Free to low-cost, depending on service | Denton and Lewisville |
| PediPlace | Kids birth to 18, uninsured or on Medicaid/CHIP | Won't turn away a family for inability to pay | Lewisville, plus school-based clinics |
| Indigent Health Care Program | Residents with an existing medical bill and no other coverage | County safety net, payer of last resort | 535 S Loop 288, Ste 1052, Denton |
1. Health Services of North Texas: Your Best Bet for an Ongoing Doctor
Need a regular primary care doctor, not just a one-time fix? Start with HSNT. It's a nonprofit community health center serving adults, kids, and seniors across Denton County. It accepts Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, and most commercial insurance.
If you're uninsured, its sliding fee scale calculates your cost based on household income and family size. Some uninsured patients qualify for a flat-rate visit instead.
| HSNT Location | Address | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Serve Denton Center | 306 N Loop 288, Ste 200, Denton, TX 76209 | Adult and pediatric primary care, behavioral health, telehealth |
| Denton Medical Center | 4304 Mesa Dr, Denton, TX 76207 | Family medicine, chronic disease management |
| Denton Pediatric Center | 4308 Mesa Dr, Denton, TX 76207 | Well visits, immunizations, ADHD and asthma care |
| Denton South Center | 3537 S I-35E, Ste 210, Denton, TX 76210 | Women's health, prenatal care, well-woman exams |
All four locations share one scheduling line, (940) 381-1501, and every office closes for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. You can also request an appointment directly at healthservicesntx.org.
💡 EasySmart Tip for Denton County Residents: Ask about the sliding fee scale before your appointment is confirmed, not after. HSNT recalculates it every April 1 based on federal income guidelines, so a quote from last year may no longer apply.
2. First Refuge Ministries: The Flat-Fee Option
If HSNT's income screening feels like more than you need, First Refuge Ministries runs a straightforward alternative. It's a faith-based nonprofit clinic staffed by volunteer doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and chiropractors, and it keeps its pricing simple on purpose.
| Service | Current Fee |
|---|---|
| New patient prescreening appointment | $20 |
| Medical appointment | $20 |
| Prescriptions | $3 |
| Immunizations and vaccines | $5 |
| Chiropractic visit | $20 |
Lab work costs extra and varies by test, but it's typically offered at a reduced rate. First Refuge is located at 1701 Broadway St, Denton, TX 76201. Fees and hours can shift, so confirm both directly with the clinic before your visit.
Do You Qualify? Run the Numbers Before You Call
First Refuge's rule sounds simple: household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, Denton County residency, and no personal insurance or a high-deductible plan.
In practice, the income part is where people either talk themselves out of applying too early, or assume they qualify and get turned away at intake. Here's what 200% actually looks like as a monthly number for 2026.
| Household Size | Monthly Income at 200% FPL (2026) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2,660 |
| 2 | $3,607 |
| 3 | $4,553 |
| 4 | $5,500 |
Quick self-check: A single Denton resident bringing home $2,400 a month falls under the $2,660 line, so they'd qualify. A family of three earning $4,800 a month sits above the $4,553 cutoff for that household size, so they wouldn't, and would likely do better calling HSNT instead, since its scale doesn't have one hard stop.
These figures track the same federal poverty guidelines First Refuge uses for screening, based on a 2026 snapshot. Bring recent pay stubs so the intake team can calculate your actual number instead of estimating.
- No government-issued photo ID (driver's license or state ID)
- No proof of income — a verbal estimate isn't enough; bring a recent pay stub, an SSI eligibility letter, or a written employer statement
- No proof of Denton County residency in your own name — a lease, mortgage statement, or current utility bill works; a bill in a roommate's or landlord's name usually doesn't
- Skipping the prescreening step and showing up expecting a same-day medical appointment as a brand-new patient
💡 EasySmart Tip for Denton County Residents: Call (940) 484-4384 ext. 102, or email medical@firstrm.org, to schedule your prescreening intake before you show up. You can also review current services on the First Refuge Medical Clinic page first.
3. Denton County Public Health: The County's Own Clinics
Denton County Public Health (DCPH) isn't a general doctor's office for every problem. Think of it more as a set of targeted public-health services, run directly by the county, with eligibility that depends on the specific program.
| DCPH Location | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Denton (main clinic) | 535 S Loop 288, Denton, TX 76205 | (940) 349-2900 |
| Lewisville office | 190 N Valley Parkway, Lewisville, TX 75067 | (972) 434-4700 |
Both locations run Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and both close for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. Call ahead. DCPH schedules appointments; it isn't a general walk-in clinic.
What DCPH Covers
- Primary care: minor illness and injury for adults and children. Eligibility depends on income, resources, residency, and household size. A financial and medical screening is required unless you already have CHIP or children's Medicaid.
- Dental services: extractions only, for households at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. No filling, cleaning, or root canal services here.
- Immunizations: currently listed at $10 per vaccine for uninsured or underinsured patients, plus a small card-processing fee if you pay by debit or credit. Bring a Medicaid or CHIP card if you have one.
- STI and HIV testing: a $30 office visit fee covers confidential chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV screening. If a test comes back positive, treatment is provided at no cost. Results typically take one to two weeks.
- Women's health services: preventive care and family-planning-related services, with cost tied to income and enrollment.
📌 Good to Know: DCPH's dental program only pulls teeth. If you need a cavity filled instead, HSNT or a private sliding-scale dentist is the better call.
4. PediPlace: A Medical Home Built for Kids
Got a child who's uninsured, or on Medicaid or CHIP? PediPlace is a nonprofit pediatric practice based in Lewisville, treating kids from birth through age 18. It also states that it won't turn a family away for inability to pay.
PediPlace also runs school-based clinics inside Central Elementary in Lewisville ISD and Fred Moore High School in Denton ISD, so some families never have to leave campus for a same-day sick visit.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Main Location | 502 S Old Orchard Lane, Ste 126, Lewisville, TX 75067 |
| Phone | (972) 436-7962 |
| Who Qualifies | Children birth to 18, uninsured or covered by Medicaid or CHIP |
| Services | Well visits, sick visits, chronic condition management, mental health screening |
Clear Up a Common Misunderstanding
People often assume Denton County's Indigent Health Care Program is a walk-in clinic. It isn't. The county describes it as a "payer of last resort," which means it only steps in after you've already applied for Medicaid, TANF, Social Security disability, veterans' benefits, or any other program you're legally entitled to.
It pays doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies directly for medically necessary care, based on Chapter 61 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. It's not where you go for a sore throat today.
For same-day or routine care, call DCPH, HSNT, or First Refuge instead. Save this office for when you already have a qualifying medical bill and need help covering it.
Indigent Health Care Program — Contact Details
Address: 535 S Loop 288, Suite 1052, Denton, TX 76205
Phone: (940) 349-2940, or (972) 434-8864
Hours: Monday, Wednesday–Friday, 8 a.m.–noon and 1–5 p.m.; Tuesday, 9 a.m.–noon and 1–5 p.m.
Which Door Should You Try First?
Beyond phone numbers and addresses, these four options aren't interchangeable once you factor in speed and strictness.
DCPH is fastest for a narrow list of services, since vaccines and STI testing don't require the income screening that primary care does.
First Refuge is the quickest low-barrier entry point once you clear intake, but that prescreening step means your first real visit is usually your second phone call, not your first.
HSNT asks for the most paperwork up front, but it's the only one of the four built for ongoing care rather than a single fix, and its scale has no hard income cutoff. Someone who's just over First Refuge's 200% line can often still get a discount there.
If you're missing a recent pay stub because you're self-employed or between jobs, both HSNT and First Refuge accept alternate proof, like a benefits letter or an employer verification note. Ask specifically which one they'll take when you call.
| If You Need... | Start Here | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A regular primary care doctor | HSNT | Sliding scale, broad services, four locations |
| Simple, low-cost care with no income paperwork hassle | First Refuge Ministries | Flat $20 visit fee once you qualify |
| Vaccines or STI testing | Denton County Public Health | Low, published fees for these specific services |
| Care for an uninsured or Medicaid/CHIP child | PediPlace | Built specifically for pediatric patients |
| Help paying an existing medical bill | Indigent Health Care Program | County safety net for already-incurred care |
Getting a Low-Cost Appointment Without Wasting a Trip
Step 1 — Know What You Actually Need
A yearly physical isn't the same as an urgent problem. A vaccine isn't the same as chronic disease care. Naming the exact service first makes the phone call faster.
Step 2 — Ask the Right Question About Cost
Don't just ask "do you take uninsured patients." Ask: "Do you have a sliding fee scale or reduced self-pay rate based on household income?" That question often surfaces options a general pricing page won't show.
Step 3 — Bring Proof of Income and ID
Income-based clinics need a recent pay stub, a benefits letter, or a self-declared income statement. Bring photo ID for every adult, and a birth certificate or Medicaid/CHIP card for kids.
Step 4 — Ask About the Prescription, Not Just the Visit
A cheap appointment doesn't help much if the prescription afterward costs hundreds of dollars. Ask about prescription assistance before you leave. First Refuge, for example, currently lists prescriptions at $3.
Step 5 — Confirm Everything Before You Drive
Denton County is big. A clinic that looks close on a map search can still be a long drive from the northern or western parts of the county. Call first and confirm the address, appointment requirement, and required documents.
A Realistic Example
A Lewisville family of four brings in about $3,800 a month. That's too much for Medicaid, but a $200 urgent care copay every time a kid gets strep throat isn't realistic either.
At HSNT, that income sits close to 150% of the federal poverty line for a household of four, which likely puts them in a reduced-fee tier rather than full self-pay. The parent calls ahead, brings two recent pay stubs and photo ID, and the clinic calculates the exact tier at check-in. That's the difference between assuming care is unaffordable and actually finding out the number.
What If It's an Emergency?
None of the clinics in this guide are built for emergencies. If someone has severe symptoms or a life-threatening condition, go to an emergency room. Don't delay because of cost worries. After the immediate problem is handled, ask the hospital's billing or financial-assistance department about payment plans or charity care, and keep copies of every bill and form.
Can You Use These Clinics If You Already Have Insurance?
Sometimes, yes. HSNT states that its sliding fee discount can apply to insured patients too, depending on household income and family size, and it may be able to help with copays. Having a card in your wallet doesn't automatically mean every bill is manageable. A high deductible can still create real financial strain, so it's worth asking whether a clinic's assistance rules apply to your situation.
Common Mistakes That Slow Things Down
| Mistake | How to Avoid It |
|---|---|
| Calling Indigent Health Care for a routine checkup | That office pays existing bills. It doesn't schedule same-day visits. Call DCPH, HSNT, or First Refuge instead. |
| Assuming DCPH dental covers fillings | DCPH dental is extractions only. Ask what else you need when you call. |
| Showing up without proof of income | Sliding-scale pricing can't be calculated without documentation. Bring recent pay stubs or a benefits letter. |
| Skipping First Refuge's prescreening step | New patients need an intake appointment first. Call ahead to confirm the process. |
| Ignoring the cost of medication | A cheap visit means little if the prescription is expensive. Ask about assistance programs before you leave. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are there truly free health clinics in Denton County?
A: Not exactly free across the board, but close. Most programs use income-based discounts or small flat fees rather than charging nothing for every service, and a few specific services, like positive-STI treatment, are provided at no cost.
Q: Why do the income limits look different at each clinic?
A: Because each program sets its own line independently, and they're not measuring the same thing. First Refuge uses 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. DCPH's dental program uses 150%. HSNT doesn't use a hard cutoff at all; its sliding scale just gets more expensive as income rises.
So it's entirely possible to land above one program's limit and still qualify for another. If First Refuge's 200% line rules you out, don't assume you're shut out everywhere. Call HSNT and ask what your tier looks like.
Q: Where can uninsured people see a doctor in Denton?
A: HSNT offers a sliding fee scale for eligible uninsured and underinsured patients, and First Refuge Ministries runs a low-cost clinic with a flat $20 visit fee for qualifying residents.
Q: Does Denton County Public Health treat adults, or only children?
A: Both. DCPH's primary care and dental programs serve adults and children, though eligibility and required documents differ by service.
Q: How much does a First Refuge visit actually cost?
A: Currently $20 for a medical appointment or a new-patient prescreening, $3 for prescriptions, and $5 for immunizations. Fees can change, so confirm before your visit.
Q: Does PediPlace still see my child if we already have CHIP?
A: Yes. PediPlace accepts children on CHIP and Medicaid in addition to uninsured children.
Q: What is the Indigent Health Care Program, exactly?
A: A county safety-net program for eligible residents who have limited income, meet residency and household requirements, and have no other source of coverage. It's considered a payer of last resort and covers certain medically necessary services through participating providers.
Final Thoughts
Denton County has more low-cost health care access than most people realize. Split between a large nonprofit health center in HSNT, a flat-fee faith-based clinic in First Refuge, the county's own public health programs, and a dedicated pediatric option in PediPlace.
The right program depends on the type of help you need. Call ahead, bring your documents, and ask about cost before your appointment, and this can help you feel more prepared for your first visit.
Key Takeaways
- HSNT offers sliding-scale primary care across four Denton locations, with its fee scale updated every April 1.
- First Refuge Ministries charges a flat $20 medical visit fee for residents at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
- Denton County Public Health handles vaccines, dental extractions, women's health, and STI/HIV testing at set, published fees.
- PediPlace treats uninsured, Medicaid, and CHIP children from birth through 18 and will not deny service for inability to pay.
- The Indigent Health Care Program pays existing medical bills as a payer of last resort. It is not a walk-in clinic.
- Income limits differ by program, so missing the cutoff at one clinic doesn't mean you're ineligible everywhere.
Related Guides
Official Sources
Editorial Note
EasySmartHub is an independent informational resource. We are not affiliated with Denton County, Denton County Public Health, Health Services of North Texas, First Refuge Ministries, PediPlace, or any government agency. Fees, eligibility rules, and locations can change, so always confirm current information directly with the clinic before your visit. Last Checked: September 2026
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