Benefits · Healthcare
How to apply for C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics + District Cares Specialty Benefits (Health Care District of Palm Beach County)
Health Care District of Palm Beach County (HCD), C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics — Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike
Who it's for
The Health Care District of Palm Beach County (HCD) is a public special taxing district created by special act of the Florida Legislature in 1988 and funded by countywide property tax — i.e., every Palm Beach County property owner already pays into it. HCD runs an integrated public health system that includes the C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics (a federally qualified health center serving uninsured and underinsured Palm Beach residents), the District Cares Specialty Benefits program (which provides no-cost specialty care to eligible uninsured Brumback patients), Lakeside Medical Center in Belle Glade (the western county public hospital), the Trauma Agency, and pharmacy services. Adults at any income level can receive care at a Brumback Clinic — the clinics treat patients with or without insurance, regardless of ability to pay. For low-income uninsured patients, the sliding-fee scale based on household size and income reduces the visit fee to as little as a nominal nominal co-pay. Community resource specialists at each clinic enroll qualifying patients into District Cares Specialty Benefits (free specialist visits, diagnostics, and outpatient procedures for eligible uninsured patients), Medicaid, the Health Insurance Marketplace, or other coverage. To schedule an appointment, call 561-642-1000. Walk-ins and same-day appointments are accepted.
Brumback Clinic access is open to anyone in Palm Beach County regardless of income — the sliding-fee scale reduces the cost for low-income patients but does not gate access. The income threshold above (~200% Federal Poverty Level for a single-person household) is the rough upper bound for full sliding-fee benefit; patients above that pay more but still receive care. District Cares Specialty Benefits is a SEPARATE no-cost program for eligible UNINSURED Brumback patients — if you have any insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, marketplace plan, employer plan), Brumback bills that instead. Confirm your sliding-fee bracket and District Cares eligibility with a community resource specialist at any Brumback Clinic.
What you'll need
- Proof of Palm Beach County residency (lease, utility bill, government correspondence)
- Proof of household income (pay stubs, Social Security award letter, tax return, SSA-1099) for sliding-fee determination
- Proof of household size
- Photo identification
- Insurance card if you have any coverage (Medicare, Medicaid, marketplace)
- Documentation that you are uninsured if applying for District Cares Specialty Benefits
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 561-642-1000
Renewals
annual recertification of sliding-fee bracket; District Cares Specialty Benefits renewed annually with income/insurance verification
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.