Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic for Lowcountry Hospitality Workers

Everyone Deserves a little ‘Southern Hospitality’ – Especially Charleston’s Hospitality Workers. 

As of September 2019, Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic has extended all free healthcare services to include eligible, low income, uninsured adults who work in the hospitality industry of Downtown Charleston. The HIP [Hospitality Inclusion Project] Initiative aims to expand patient eligibility and provide free healthcare, specialty referrals, and low/no-cost prescription services to all uninsured adults ages 18-65 who serve the hospitality industry of Charleston’s Peninsula, inclusive of all downtown food, beverage, and lodging businesses. [Are you eligible? Take this quiz.]

As a large, 140-volunteer free clinic located on Johns Island just over the Stono River Bridge from downtown Charleston, we are well-positioned to meet the demands of the often low income, uninsured population comprising our hospitality industry. Clinic services include:

• Primary Care
• Dermatology
• Psychiatry
• Chronic Disease Management
• Gynecology
• Urology 
• Cardiology
• Reproductive Health
• Nutrition
• Low/No Cost Prescriptions
• Labs & Imaging
• Free referrals to 19 off-site sub-specialty practices as needed.

As a part of our HIP Initiative, prior to submitting a patient application, all prospective patients must first demonstrate that they meet the base guidelines for free health care services at Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic. HIP Eligible Patients Must:

• Be age 18 – 65
• Work in an established place of business catering to the Hospitality industry (food, beverage & lodging) on the Charleston Peninsula (downtown Charleston.
• Have no medical insurance, Medicaid or VA benefits
• Meet Clinic Income Eligibility Guidelines (please see most updated income guidelines here)
• Submit Necessary Forms & Resources

*Prospective HIP patients will demonstrate initial eligibility by stating their 1. Current place of employment; 2. Household size and/or financial support for both family/dependent housing or non-familial rent sharing status; and 3. Indicate monthly or annual income.

Official Website

Charleston Serves; Charleston Cares. It has long been our philosophy that everyone deserves the dignity of healthcare. We are now fortunate to be able to return the hospitality to those who serve as the backbone of what we consider to be a truly welcoming city.

Help Spread the Word! Follow Us on Twitter @BIFMCovers or use the tag: #HIPchs

Are you eligible? Take this short quiz to help determine your eligibility, or call us at 843-266-9800. You can also email info@bifmc.org.

Click Here for Application Forms and Resources.

Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic is a 501c3 non-profit medical clinic in Charleston, SC. We provide free medical care to eligible patients just like any family practitioner or internist – at no cost. The Free Clinic serves uninsured adults living at or below 299 % of the Federal poverty level who live or work on the Barrier Islands or serve Charleston’s Downtown Hospitality Industry. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.