Question 1

What will my care cost? Will I get a bill later?

Accepted Answer

MERCI Clinic does not bill patients. Visits, medications from our pharmacy, and lab work are provided at no cost, funded by donations and delivered largely by volunteer doctors, nurses, and dentists. If we refer you to an outside partner for care we don't provide, that provider may bill separately.

Question 2

Who does MERCI care for?

Accepted Answer

Adults who do not have healthcare insurance (medical and/or dental), whose household income is within our guideline (up to three times the federal poverty level), and who live in North Carolina. Most of our patients come from Craven, Jones, and Pamlico counties, and most of them work. If you are not sure whether you're a fit, call us at 252-633-1599 and we will figure it out together.

Question 3

I have a job. Can I still be a patient here?

Accepted Answer

Very likely, yes. Most of our patients work. What matters is that you have no insurance and money is tight, not whether you are employed.

Question 4

How do I become a patient?

Accepted Answer

Call 252-633-1599 to set up an appointment with a Patient Access Coordinator, available Monday through Friday. Bring a photo ID, proof of income, and proof of address. Your coordinator will walk you through everything. The visit is short.

Question 5

Can I just walk in when I'm sick?

Accepted Answer

Care at MERCI is by appointment, which is how we keep waits short and visits unhurried. If you're not yet a patient, start with a new-patient enrollment visit. If you're having a medical emergency, call 911.

Question 6

¿Hablan español?

Accepted Answer

Díganos cuando llame que prefiere español y haremos lo posible por atenderle en su idioma. Our core patient pages are also available in Spanish, and we actively recruit Spanish-speaking volunteer interpreters.

Question 7

How long until I can see a doctor?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the season and our volunteer schedule. Sometimes days, sometimes a few weeks. Our clinical team triages urgent needs first.

Question 8

What kind of care can I get?

Accepted Answer

Primary care, women's health, orthopedics, physical therapy, dental care, an on-site pharmacy, and lab testing. Because health is about more than what happens in the exam room, our coordinators also help with the things that get in the way of it: referrals, transportation, medication costs, and connections to community resources.

Question 9

What about my medications?

Accepted Answer

Our on-site pharmacy fills prescriptions written by our providers at no cost, using donated and program-sourced medications. Our pharmacist will review everything you take.

Question 10

Is my information private?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We follow the same patient-privacy standards as any medical practice. Please do not include medical details in website forms. We discuss your health privately, by phone or in person.

Questions people actually ask

Cost & who we care for

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The short version: if you're uninsured, start here.