Healthcare for uninsured women is accessible through Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Title X family planning clinics, Planned Parenthood, free clinics, and Medicaid. FQHCs charge on a sliding scale and provide primary care, prenatal care, dental, and behavioral health — locate via the HRSA health center finder. Title X clinics offer free or low-cost contraception, STI testing, and cervical/breast screenings regardless of insurance. The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) provides free screenings to low-income, uninsured women. Medicaid covers pregnancy in all 50 states up to at least 138% FPL. This directory includes FQHCs, Title X clinics, free clinics, and state Medicaid offices.
Iowa district courts hear family cases in all 99 counties, with the Child Support Recovery Unit under the Department of Human Services managing enforcement. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Sioux City are the largest metros. Iowa Legal Aid and the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence support women, with self-represented litigant coordinators in every county.
Iowa Medicaid, administered by HHS at 1305 E Walnut Street, covers pregnant women up to 380% FPL, children, adults under the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, and aged/disabled populations. The member services line at 800-338-8366 can confirm coverage, find an in-network provider, and explain prior authorization for specialty care.
800-338-8366 · 1305 E Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50319 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
Iowa uses the federal HealthCare.gov platform for ACA marketplace enrollment, open from November 1 through January 15 with special enrollment periods for life events. Subsidies are available up to 400% FPL and cost-sharing reductions up to 250% FPL. The federal call center at 800-318-2596 enrolls in any language.
800-318-2596 · Online Application · Online 24/7 · Visit Website
Primary Health Care at 1200 University Avenue is the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in central Iowa, offering medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy under one roof for uninsured and Medicaid patients on a sliding scale. Six PHC clinic sites serve the Des Moines metro. Schedule at 515-248-1600.
515-248-1600 · 1200 University Ave Suite 200, Des Moines, IA 50314 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
CHCSI at 2545 Avenue L in Fort Madison is the FQHC for Lee, Des Moines, Henry, and Louisa counties, providing primary care, OB-GYN, dental, and behavioral health on a sliding-fee scale. The Burlington, West Burlington, and Wapello satellite sites broaden the catchment. Phone 319-524-3263.
319-524-3263 · 2545 Avenue L, Fort Madison, IA 52627 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
Siouxland Community Health Center at 1021 Nebraska Street is the Sioux City FQHC providing comprehensive primary care, OB-GYN, dental, and a robust refugee health program. Sliding-fee scale applies to uninsured patients; Medicaid and most commercial plans accepted. Schedule by calling 712-252-2477.
712-252-2477 · 1021 Nebraska St, Sioux City, IA 51105 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
Free Clinics of Iowa is the state coalition representing 22 volunteer-driven clinics that provide medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health care to uninsured Iowans at no cost. The coalition does not see patients directly but routes calls at 515-281-7689 to the nearest member clinic.
515-281-7689 · Multiple IA locations · Varies by clinic · Visit Website
HealthCare.gov hosts the federal marketplace serving Iowa and 32 other states. The site's plan-finder tool projects premiums, subsidies, and total annual cost across plans, useful for mothers weighing a marketplace plan versus a spouse's employer plan or Iowa Medicaid expansion eligibility.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Medicaid.gov is the federal CMS site with eligibility lookups, state-by-state benefit comparisons, and a complete Medicaid rule library — useful when a woman is questioning whether a denial or service limit by Iowa's MCO contractors is actually allowed under federal law.
Nationwide · Online
HRSA's find-a-health-center tool returns the nearest FQHC by ZIP, with each location's services, hours, and languages spoken. Iowa has 14 federally funded FQHC organizations with more than 100 service sites; the directory is the most current way to locate one accepting new patients.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Planned Parenthood of the North Central States operates clinics in Des Moines, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Sioux City, and Bettendorf providing birth control, STI testing, cancer screening, and gender-affirming care. Sliding-scale fees and Iowa Medicaid accepted. Online appointment scheduling is available.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
OWH within HHS runs the National Women's Health Information Center at 1-800-994-9662, a free helpline staffed Monday-Friday with information on women's health topics from menopause to maternal mental health. The website is one of the most heavily fact-checked consumer health resources on the federal web.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
CDC's women's health pages aggregate the agency's surveillance and prevention guidance on conditions disproportionately affecting women — cervical and breast cancer screening, heart disease, autoimmune conditions, and maternal mortality. The state data dashboards include Iowa-specific maternal mortality and morbidity stats.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Susan G. Komen's national breast cancer helpline at 1-877-465-6636 connects women to navigation services, financial assistance for treatment, and clinical trial matching. The Iowa-area affiliate funds free mammograms for uninsured women through grants to MercyOne and UnityPoint screening centers.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
ACS's 24/7 helpline at 800-227-2345 is staffed by cancer information specialists who can locate clinical trials, free Hope Lodge lodging for women traveling for treatment to Mayo or other centers, and the Road to Recovery transportation program for chemo appointments.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
March of Dimes funds maternal and infant health research, NICU family support programs, and policy advocacy on maternal mortality. The Iowa chapter partners with UnityPoint and University of Iowa Children's Hospital on the Mom & Baby Mobile Health Center bringing prenatal care to underserved communities.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
NBWHI is the only national nonprofit specifically advancing Black women's health policy, with a focus on maternal mortality disparities, reproductive justice, and chronic disease prevention. Iowa Black women can access free programs including the Change Your Lifestyle initiative on cardiovascular health.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website