For use without big hospital systems unless that ever feels okay later. Everything here works if you have no insurance. Some parts also get easier if you later get NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid).
NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid) is free and makes everything in this document easier — zero cost at the clinics; dental included; more medications covered, including new name-brand drugs not available in generic.
You can apply online or by phone in about 20 minutes. The FQHC clinics (SJFMC and AtlantiCare) can also help you apply during a phone or telehealth visit — just ask. Once approved, you can keep going to the same places, they just bill Medicaid instead.
Most things can be handled by phone or telehealth. The exceptions are bloodwork and heart checks — those need a body in a room. NJ law requires controlled substances (like stimulants) to be written after at least one in-person visit, then in person every 90 days after that. Everything else in this document can be done entirely by phone.
Federally Qualified Health Center — by federal law, cannot refuse treatment because you can't pay. Medical, dental, and mental healthcare all in one place. The sliding-fee scale goes to zero for people with no income. No income = no cost.
Participates in 340B prescription cost — they send prescriptions with discounted medications to Walgreens that you can pick up in the drive-through or in-store. Telehealth and phone visits are available for new patients. You do not need documentation. You can sign an attestation form saying zero income, no address.
What you're walking into if you have to go: 1301 Atlantic Ave, Suite 100. One building, one front door, the smallest building out of all providers, a historical building, the least institutional, and phone visits are available. Community clinic feel — 21 doctors across 12 specialties, including dentistry, all in the same place. No patient is turned away regardless of their ability to pay.
Federally Qualified Health Center — by federal law, cannot refuse treatment because you can't pay. Sliding-fee scale goes to zero for people with no income. Has an in-house pharmacy in the same building and participates in the 340B federal drug pricing program — stronger option for getting medications dispensed cheaply.
1401 Atlantic Ave, suites 2400–2500 (FQHC), 2600 (behavioral health), pharmacy in the same building. Call ahead and ask the receptionist for the exact building, floor, suite, and directions so you walk in knowing exactly where you're going. Their larger facilities can give an institutional vibe.
Smaller location. If you're asking for controlled substances like stimulants that require in-person visits, scheduling at this location is easier to manage.
Both SJFMC and AtlantiCare are FQHCs and both participate in the 340B federal drug pricing program, which allows them to provide medications at reduced or no cost to uninsured low-income patients.
AtlantiCare has a larger system with its own in-house pharmacy, making it the stronger option for getting medications dispensed cheaply. They can waive the remainder to $0 for zero income individuals.
SJFMC can write the 340B prescriptions, but they are sent to Walgreens — generics are usually only a few cents to $1–2.
These programs usually require a prescriber and a short application. A clinic can help with the forms during a phone or telehealth visit.
For other name-brand medications: google the medication name + "patient assistance" and sign up. Your prescriber may have to submit a form. Sometimes the manufacturer mails them instead of discounting at the pharmacy — ask your doctor's office if they can receive them there, or arrange general delivery to the post office, a P.O. Box, or the address of an agency that helps the unhoused.
This part is optional. You can ignore it unless you decide you want full coverage and dental. New Jersey Medicaid (NJ FamilyCare) can be applied for online or by phone. Going to an office is not required.
If approved: AtlantiCare and SJFMC can both see you as a Medicaid patient. You can keep going to the same clinics — they just bill NJ FamilyCare instead of using the sliding fee. It opens you up to more clinics, specialists, and name-brand medications.
For mental health medications specifically — use these in this order. Each one is listed with a note explaining why it's on the list and what to expect.
If you are refused stimulants at the clinics above, you can try other practices. The ones below are not FQHC or 340B, and may require NJ Medicaid — or if they don't accept that, you'd pay cash. They are arranged most likely to prescribe stimulants to least.
These are either free or heavily discounted (NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid would cover dental too). Two reasons to care about this: dental pain is excruciating, and keeping your teeth. The FQHC dental clinic exists, it's free or near-free at zero income, and a cleaning or filling now is a lot easier than what happens if you don't go.
Same FQHC. Medical, dental, and mental healthcare all in one place. Sliding fee goes to zero. No documentation needed — sign an attestation form for zero income, no address. One building, one front door, the smallest and least institutional of all providers.
FQHC dental suite in the Medical Arts Pavilion. Sliding-fee discount; sees patients regardless of ability to pay. Call ahead and ask for the exact suite and directions before you go.
Only if SJFMC and AtlantiCare FQHC dental are not available.
It's okay to ignore all of this until something feels bad enough to change.
When something does need attention:
Calls can be made over Wi-Fi using a Google Voice / TextNow / VoIP number instead of a regular phone.