Low-income families in the Inland Empire face unique challenges when it comes to primary healthcare. Many don’t have health insurance and are unaware of available healthcare options that they can access, regardless of ability to pay. Even those with insurance, such as Medi-Cal, are still unsure where to turn. If you are seeking primary care for you and your family, it’s important to understand the available options.
What Is Primary Care?
A primary care provider is your go-to health care provider for checkups, illnesses, and any medical concerns that you have. Many health insurance companies now require that you have a primary care doctor, who will essentially be the director of your health care, prescribing treatment and medications and referring you to specialists when necessary.
A primary care doctor can be either:
- A family practice doctor, who can care for everyone in your family.
- An internal medicine doctor, who is trained in the diagnosis and treatment of many illnesses.
- A pediatrician, who can be the primary care provider for your children.
Why Primary Care Is Important
A primary care doctor will have access to your medical records and health history. This can help with diagnosing medical conditions and monitoring you for hereditary diseases or conditions for which you are at risk. They will also have records of all your prescription medications, even those prescribed by specialists, so they can ensure that you don’t have any dangerous medication interactions.
The personalized care that they provide can allow them to detect health issues and conditions early, which can be key to successful treatment. If you have a chronic condition, such as diabetes, they can help you monitor and manage it. They can also provide preventive care including regular screenings for common conditions and administering vaccinations.
They will also refer you to any appropriate specialists, and work with those doctors to manage your care.
Finding Primary Care in the Inland Empire
If you have Medi-Cal, you can check your Medi-Cal managed care plan’s primary care provider directory. Many residents in the area are enrolled in plans like Inland Empire Health Plan or L.A. Care Health Plan, and each plan keeps an updated list of in-network doctors, clinics, and specialists. These directories are easy to search online and allow you to filter by location, provider type, and language preferences.
The California Department of Health Care Services also offers tools and information to help you understand your benefits and find participating providers.
Additionally, calling your health plan’s member services line can connect you with a representative who can walk you through your options, confirm which providers are in-network, and help you choose or switch your primary care doctor.
Community Health Centers
If you don’t have insurance, you still have options. Community health centers, such as Health Service Alliance in the Inland Empire, are community-based healthcare providers that receive federal funding to provide affordable healthcare services to underserved and low-income populations, regardless of ability to pay. These health centers are supported and regulated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Community health centers provide a host of services, including primary care, preventive care, chronic disease management, mental health services, substance use treatment, and sometimes dental and vision care.
Community health centers have a sliding fee scale, meaning that the cost of care is adjusted based on a patient’s income and family size. This allows people without insurance and a low income to receive care at reduced costs.
Sliding fee scales are important for uninsured people who might otherwise not seek care due to cost concerns. By lowering costs, these programs allow patients to seek preventive care, routine checkups, and early treatment for health issues. Many clinics that offer sliding fee scales also help patients apply for programs such as Medi-Cal or Medicare.
It’s important to note that federal regulations require health centers funded through HRSA to offer services regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. While patients are expected to pay what they can based on the sliding fee scale, they generally cannot be denied care if they cannot afford the cost.
Medi-Cal
If you have not applied for Medi-Cal, or did not qualify in the past, you may now qualify under the income eligibility requirements that change annually.
In 2026, Medi-Cal income limits are as follows:
- For one person, the limit is 138% of the FPL, which is $21,597 annually. For each additional family member, $7,500 is added to the limit. That means that for a family of two the limit is $29,187, and for a family of four, it is $44,367.
- For children 19 and under, the family income limit is 266% of FPL for a family of one, which is $41,629 per year. For a family of four, the limit is $85,519 per year.
- For pregnant women, income limits may be higher (213% FPL) for pregnancy-related coverage.
Asset and immigration status requirements may also apply. If you need help applying, most community health centers can offer assistance.
In Closing
It’s important to know your primary care options in the Inland Empire so that you and your family can get the healthcare that you need. If you or someone you know needs care and is worried about cost, call our Euclid Community Health Center at 840-237-3344. The center is located at 600 N Euclid Ave. Ste. 202 Upland, CA 91786. At Health Service Alliance, we are dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized, and accessible care regardless of your ability to pay.
