Benefits

Community Health Centers in Texas — low-cost medical care for immigrants

Name: Community health centers (FQHC) by state
Creator: MigrantUSA
License: https://migrantusa.com/terms/

Community health centers in Texas: sliding-scale primary, dental and mental health care whatever your status, at sites in Houston, Austin and El Paso.

Flag: Paul B. Joiner · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

Image: Daniel Mayer · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Community Health Centers (FQHC) in Texas

Texas at a glance

Texas is home to about 5,302,466 foreign-born residents (17.6% of the state’s 30,188,424 people) and 11,991,467 residents of Hispanic or Latino origin (39.7%), per the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2024 5-year estimates). The procedures below apply to everyone in Texas regardless of immigration status unless noted.

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) are the most important low-cost medical care network in US for uninsured or underinsured people. They serve EVERYONE regardless of immigration status.

How FQHCs work — the short version

A Federally Qualified Health Center is a community clinic that receives a grant under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act, or that HRSA has determined meets the requirements for one. Three things matter in practice: every site must serve you regardless of immigration status, fees follow a sliding scale based on income (a pay stub is usually enough proof), and most Texas locations put primary care, pediatrics, dental, mental health, and a low-cost pharmacy under one roof. No insurance is required, and in areas with large Spanish-speaking populations, bilingual staff are the norm.

For other states, see the national community health centers guide.

Important: Public Charge Rule

Under the 2022 public-charge rule, using an FQHC does not affect your immigration case — that rule does not consider low-cost medical services. ⚠️ It is rescinded effective September 18, 2026 (91 FR 45324); care received before that date is still judged under the 2022 rule, and receiving benefits is never outcome-determinative on its own. DHS says the new rule applies to applications for admission made on or after September 18, 2026, and to adjustment-of-status applications postmarked or electronically submitted on or after that date. See the public charge guide.

FQHC locations in Texas: the real numbers

Texas has 847 active federally funded health center sites, per HRSA's Health Center Service Delivery Sites file. Every one of them is required to serve you regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. The cities with the most locations:

City	FQHC sites
Houston	108
San Antonio	50
Austin	49
El Paso	48
Dallas	36

Coverage by county

County	Sites
Harris	128
El Paso	64
Travis	55
Bexar	54
Dallas	40
Gregg	36
Brazoria	19
Mclennan	19

Major health center sites you can call today

Health center site	City	Phone
Chambers County Public Hospital Dist. 1	Anahuac	(409) 267-3143
CommuniCare Health Centers - Navigation Center	San Antonio	(210) 233-7000
Hancock Health Center	Austin	(512) 978-9940
Dallas Deflection Center-Homeward Bound	Dallas	(214) 590-0153
Bee Busy Wellness Center	Houston	(713) 771-2292
Su Clinica - Harlingen	Harlingen	(956) 365-6000
Gateway Community Health Center, INC.	Laredo	956-795-8100 x3646
Pearland Family Health Center	Pearland	(281) 824-1480

Source: HRSA Health Center Service Delivery and Look-Alike Sites (retrieved 2026-10-07; refreshed quarterly). Hours and walk-in policies change — call before visiting, or search every site at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.

Last verified: 2026-09-24.

General information, not medical advice. For specific care, talk to a medical provider.

Last verified: 2026-09-24.

General procedural information for educational purposes. Not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Laws and fees change — verify with the issuing agency before taking action. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney or other appropriate professional.

Federal benefits eligibility by immigration status — who qualifies for what
Find legal aid in your state — public-benefits appeals
What an ITIN is and is not — an ITIN is a tax-filing number, not proof of eligibility for any benefit; each program sets its own identity and status rules
Consulate of your country — many offer financial-assistance referrals
Know Your Rights — public-benefits enrollment — agency confidentiality limits

Frequently asked questions

Do FQHCs in Texas ask immigration status?

NO. FQHCs are legally required to serve EVERYONE regardless of immigration status, ability to pay, or insurance. The center does not need your immigration status to treat you, and your medical records are protected by HIPAA. One caveat: enrolling in Medicaid creates a separate federal record — since 2025 HHS/CMS has shared Medicaid enrollee data with ICE, and a federal court only partially blocked this on December 29, 2025. Paying the sliding-fee scale directly does not create a Medicaid record. Current status: Medicaid data sharing with ICE.

How much do FQHC services cost in Texas?

FQHCs use a ‘sliding fee scale’ required by federal law: patients at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level receive a full discount or pay only a nominal charge the center sets; between 100% and 200% the discount steps down with income; above 200% no discount is required. Ask the center for its own fee schedule.

What services do FQHCs in Texas offer?

Primary medical care (adults and kids), pediatrics, gynecology and prenatal, mental health and counseling, basic dental services, low-cost pharmacy, vaccines, school/work physicals, chronic disease management (diabetes, hypertension).

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General information, not legal advice. MigrantUSA is an independent publisher and is not a law firm; using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship, and this content is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. US federal, state, and local government procedures, fees, and forms change. Always verify current details directly with the relevant agency before acting. For immigration, tax, or other legal matters specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney or BIA-accredited representative.