For many of our neighbors in Dane County, the answer to this question depends on more than their symptoms. For low-income, uninsured Madisonians, receiving specialized medical care could result in bills high enough to topple their monthly budget, leaving families to decide whether to pay rent that month or treat an ailment. It goes without saying that this unfortunate dilemma leads to our community members delaying - or altogether foregoing - treatment that could significantly improve their lives, or even save them.

Specialty Care Free Clinic is a nonprofit specialty clinic funded entirely by donations that has been addressing this need since 2001. It was founded by three local doctors who saw these disparities reflected in their day-to-day work. While there are several free primary care clinics in the area for uninsured patients, a large gap in accessible specialty care services remains. With a referral from a primary care provider, uninsured patients can schedule free appointments in 24 specialties, such as cardiology, psychiatry, gynecology, ophthalmology, or neurology, for otherwise unaffordable consultation and treatment.

This essential care is offered with the support of medical interpreters, and in 2024 the clinic saw patients speaking 26 different languages. The entire medical staff volunteers their time for free to give back to our neighbors in need. In 2025, Specialty Care Free Clinic is on track to provide over 1,650 patient visits, its busiest year ever, with patients ranging from 15 to 94 years old. Impressively, Specialty Care Free Clinic’s 2025 operating budget is less than the average single-family home price in Dane County! Learn more about how you can donate your time or money to this high-impact cause at www.scfcwi.org.