Resources Health care and insurance
Medicines, dental and eye care
Where in New York to get medicines, dental care and eye exams for free or at low cost without insurance or money.
Addresses, hours and prices are as of November 2026.
Start here
- Urgent dental care: walk in to the Columbia College of Dental Medicine on weekdays from 8:30 am; registration closes at 3 pm.
- Without insurance, you can get medicines through NYC Care, free or low-cost at Q Clinic, and at a discount at Callen-Lorde's pharmacies.
- Medicaid and the Essential Plan cover medicines, dental and vision. Without insurance, University Eye Center at the SUNY College of Optometry offers low-cost eye exams.
With Medicaid or the Essential Plan, prescriptions are covered and you pay only a small copay. Without insurance you can still get medicines free or at a discount.
Get a prescription at a clinic that treats people without insurance
NYC Care includes medicines ("Medications 24/7"), Q Clinic gives them free or at low cost, and Callen-Lorde and Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center charge on a sliding scale.
Ask about the clinic's own pharmacy
Callen-Lorde has pharmacies at all three sites, with free delivery and discounts for eligible patients. Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center offers 340B discounts through partner pharmacies.
Compare prices at pharmacies
According to the state Department of Health, free discount services (such as GoodRx, SingleCare and Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs) give coupons in apps and online and can cut the price by up to 80%. This is a cash price instead of insurance; compare several pharmacies.
HIV medicines and PrEP: state programs
The state program ADAP (AIDS Drug Assistance Program) gives HIV medicines for free; PrEP-AP pays for PrEP visits and tests.
Callen-Lorde Pharmacy
Any statusPrice depends on income
Pharmacies at all three Callen-Lorde sites: free delivery, 90-day supplies of regular medicines, and they take ADAP, Medicaid, Medicare Part D and commercial insurance. Eligible patients without insurance or drug coverage get large discounts. Order refills online at callenlordepharmacy.com, in MyChart, or by replying to a Text2Refill reminder (callen-lorde.org/text2refill).
At teaching clinics, dental students treat patients under faculty supervision, for less than most private offices. Medicaid and the Essential Plan cover dental care.
If you need urgent care
Columbia's dental college sees urgent cases without an appointment Mon–Fri 8:30 am–5 pm, with registration closing at exactly 3 pm: for heavy bleeding, swelling, mouth infections or injuries.
If you can book ahead, choose a teaching clinic
At the NYU and Columbia dental colleges, students and residents treat patients under faculty supervision; cheaper than most private offices, paid on the day of the visit. At NYU, bring photo ID and proof of address.
If you have Medicaid, say so when you book
NYU takes New York State Medicaid, including managed care plans. Columbia takes regular Medicaid, most managed care plans and Child Health Plus.
Callen-Lorde patients: dental care in Chelsea
Dental care is in Chelsea only, and only for people already getting medical care at Callen-Lorde. They take Medicaid and ADAP Plus, may offer a sliding scale without insurance, and don't take commercial dental insurance.
Where to get dental care: payment
| How you pay | What they accept | |
|---|---|---|
| NYU College of Dentistry | Lower fees, payment due at the visit | New York State Medicaid, including managed care plans |
| Columbia College of Dental Medicine | Cheaper than most private offices, paid on the day of the visit | Straight Medicaid, most Medicaid managed care plans, Child Health Plus |
| Callen-Lorde (Chelsea only) | Sliding scale without insurance (may be available) | Medicaid and ADAP Plus (a State program for people with HIV); does not accept commercial dental insurance |
| Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center | A sliding fee scale and payment plans | — |
NYU College of Dentistry
Any statusLow cost
Students treat patients under faculty supervision at reduced prices, paid on the day of the visit. Bring photo ID and proof of address. They take New York State Medicaid, including managed care plans. New patients request an appointment online: patientaccess.dental.nyu.edu/Request.
Columbia College of Dental Medicine, General and Specialty Dentistry Clinic
Any statusLow cost
A teaching clinic: students and residents treat patients under licensed faculty. Walk-ins for heavy bleeding, swelling, mouth infections or injuries. Pay by cash, card, check or a valid Medicaid card.
Callen-Lorde Dental Clinic
Any statusPrice depends on income
Checkups and cleanings, fillings, root canals, crowns, bridges and dentures. In Chelsea only, and only for Callen-Lorde medical patients. They take Medicaid and ADAP Plus. Call and say "Russian": a Russian interpreter is provided on request.
Community Healthcare Network, Dental Care
Any statusPrice depends on income
A network of New York community clinics: dental care and eye care, priced by income. Go in person or book by phone.
The Essential Plan and Medicaid cover vision care. Without insurance, a few places offer low-cost eye exams and glasses.
Check whether your insurance covers you
In the Essential Plan, dental and vision cost $0; Medicaid covers them too. Give your insurance number when you book.
Without insurance, join NYC Care
NYC Care includes eye exams and glasses prescriptions (Eye Care and eyeglass prescriptions). Fees from $0, by income and family size.
Or book at a university clinic
University Eye Center (the SUNY College of Optometry clinic) takes Medicare and New York State Medicaid; you pay on the day of the visit. Without insurance or money, its Charitable Care Fund may help, based on income. Book online at universityeyecenter.org.
University Eye Center (SUNY College of Optometry)
Any statusPrice depends on income
The clinic of the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry. It takes most plans, including Medicare and New York State Medicaid; you pay on the day of the visit, and the Charitable Care Fund may help if money is short. You can book online.
EyeBuyDirect
Any statusLow cost
Low-cost glasses online: frames from $6, basic lenses cost extra, and a simple pair for distance usually comes to about $15–50 with shipping in the US. You need a prescription with your pupillary distance (PD): ask the eye doctor to write it in after your exam, or measure it yourself with the guide on the site. No insurance needed.
The list is on its own page: "Dentists and eye doctors: our members' experience". QARAVAN has not checked licenses or the accuracy of these reviews.
- Sliding scale
- The price of a visit depends on your income.
- Teaching clinic
- A university clinic where students treat patients under licensed faculty.
- Generic and brand
- A generic is a cheaper version of a medicine with the same active ingredient; a brand-name drug is made by the company that developed it.
- 340B
- A drug discount program in which Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center takes part through partner pharmacies.
- Charitable Care Fund
- University Eye Center's patient fund; help is based on income.
- Copayment
- A fixed amount you pay for a visit or a medicine.
This is general information, not legal advice: QARAVAN has no lawyers. QARAVAN does not help anyone enter the US and cannot arrange visas, invitations, sponsorship or evacuation. For your own case, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice.