Free & Affordable Healthcare

Abortion is legal in North Carolina through 12 weeks. Planned Parenthood Asheville offers pregnancy tests, prenatal care, abortion (medication and in-clinic up to 12 weeks 6 days), birth control, and STI testing. Financial assistance is available — ask when you call.

Planned Parenthood is the primary local provider

1. 1 Planned Parenthood Asheville: 828-252-7928 · 68 McDowell St — closed Sun & Mon; walk-ins Tue/Wed/Thu
2. 2 WNCCHS OB/GYN & Prenatal: 828-285-0622 · 119 Hendersonville Rd (MAHEC) — full prenatal, sliding scale
3. 3 MAHEC Family Health: 828-257-4730 · 121 Hendersonville Rd — OB/GYN and prenatal; Medicaid
4. 4 Financial help for abortion: National Abortion Federation Fund: 1-800-772-9100
5. 5 All-options support line: 1-888-493-0092 — judgment-free support for any pregnancy decision

WNCCHS is the primary free/sliding-scale dental provider in Buncombe County. Their board approved even lower sliding-scale rates for 2026. A $667,673 grant recently expanded urgent dental access.

Sliding scale based on income · No insurance required

1. 1 WNCCHS Dental: 828-285-0622 · 257 Biltmore Ave — cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, dentures
2. 2 How to enroll in sliding scale: Call 828-285-0622 and ask for the Sliding Discount Program — bring ID and proof of income
3. 3 Appalachian Mountain Health: 828-257-4745 · 7 McDowell St — dental services on sliding scale
4. 4 After-hours emergency: Call WNCCHS for a callback referral

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) receive federal funding to provide care to all patients. The sliding scale means fees adjust to what you can afford — sometimes as low as $0.

Multiple locations · Medicaid accepted · Nobody turned away

1. 1 WNCCHS — Minnie Jones Health Center: 828-285-0622 · 257 Biltmore Ave — primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, behavioral health, pharmacy
2. 2 Appalachian Mountain Health: 828-257-4745 · 7 McDowell St — primary + behavioral + dental
3. 3 ABCCM Medical Ministry: 828-259-5339 · 155 Livingston St — free medical care for uninsured
4. 4 Project Access Buncombe: Free specialty care referrals for uninsured at or below 200% FPL — apply at mywcms.org; 304 Summit St
5. 5 How to enroll: Complete the Sliding Fee Application at any WNCCHS location; bring photo ID and proof of income

Asheville has strong free and sliding-scale mental health support. Multiple free entry points exist — start with what feels accessible. A warmline is for non-crisis support; a crisis line is for emergencies. Both are free.

Free crisis walk-in 24/7 · Peer warmline 24/7 · Sliding-scale therapy

1. 1 All Souls Counseling Center: 828-259-3369 · allsoulscounseling.org — licensed therapists on sliding scale; individual, couples, group
2. 2 WNCCHS Behavioral Health: 828-285-0622 — integrated mental health + primary care; sliding scale; all ages
3. 3 NAMI Western Carolina: namiwnc.org — free support groups, Family-to-Family classes, peer education; no income limits
4. 4 Sunrise Community Warmline: 828-280-2554 — peer support staffed by people in recovery; non-crisis
5. 5 MHA of WNC Peer Warmline: 1-800-961-6105 — 24/7, free, confidential peer support
6. 6 Behavioral Health Crisis Center (24/7 walk-in): 828-210-2651 · 356 Biltmore Ave
7. 7 YMCA WNC Teen Mental Health: ymcawnc.org — free trainings and therapeutic mentoring for youth
8. 8 WNC Listening Line: Non-crisis phone support 8am–11pm daily — free, no judgment, no referral needed