The Ithaca Health Alliance was founded in 1997. Our mission is to facilitate access to health care for all, with a focus on the needs of the uninsured.

Since our founding, we have used the contributions of our members to create a sustainable model of community-oriented, community-driven solutions to the ongoing healthcare crisis. Today, with hundreds of members throughout the state of New York, we have three primary programs: the Ithaca Health Fund, the Ithaca Free Clinic and Ithaca Health Alliance Educational Programs.

Ithaca Health Fund
The Ithaca Health Fund provides financial assistance in meeting the costs of health care. Through the Fund, IHA provides grants that can help with specific categories of preventive and emergency healthcare expenses. The Fund also offers interest-free loans for dental procedures, eye care, and improvement of professional health services. Through the IHA Community Grants program, small grants are offered to other groups doing health-related work.
    Fund grants are available to all general and provider members of IHA (New York state residency required, as below). Any member of our community with demonstrable financial need can apply for a free enrollment through the Fund.

Ithaca Free Clinic
The Health Alliance opened a free health Clinic in downtown Ithaca on January 23, 2006. The Ithaca Free Clinic (IFC) provides 100% free healthcare services to the un- and under-insured residents of Tompkins County and the surrounding region. IFC is a medically integrated facility where volunteer health professionals provide both conventional and holistic medical services to clinic visitors as well as health insurance counseling and other services.
    At IFC, anyone may receive free healthcare services for which they otherwise have no insurance coverage. IFC services are on a walk-in basis, with no appointment required. Follow-up appointments can be scheduled as needed. The Ithaca Free Clinic is open on Mondays 2-6 p.m. and Thursdays 4-8 p.m., with therapeutic services available by appointment on Tuesdays. We are located at 225 South Fulton Street (second floor) in Ithaca, NY.

Educational Programs
The Alliance offers free educational programming for the general public. Informal classes, lectures, and guest speakers are offered throughout the year; other events are scheduled as they arise. We offer resources in the waiting area of our offices at the Free Clinic, which everyone is welcome to browse through. We network with experts in all fields of health to help our neighbors learn about the wealth of health options available. Our quarterly newsletter provides information about different health subjects and other educational resources in addition to news of the organization.

The Ithaca Health Alliance was created on a cooperative model, and from the beginning we have been shaped by our members. Through the power of community building, our members help other members in need with health expenses — financially, through the organization and the services they make possible, and directly, through services like member-to-member benefits, which include discounts on health care offered by our Provider Members.

Health Alliance Memberships The Ithaca Health Alliance is a democratic organization driven by and made possible by our members! Members guide the organization through voting in referenda and board elections and through direct feedback. The IHA board of directors is elected from the IHA membership, and growth is guided by member interests. General members, who must be New York state residents, are eligible for grants and loans through the Health Fund.     Health care professionals may join as Provider Members of the IHA community health network, giving their neighbors greater access to the health care services they provide. Sponsor and Affiliate members donate to the community health vision.     Discounted membership rates are given to businesses or community organizations that wish to enroll employees/members, and free memberships are available to those who qualify based on financial need.

Discounts from Practitioners The Ithaca Health Alliance believes in the power of communities to support each other in their health care needs. Health Alliance Provider Members are professionals who work with us to make care more affordable for others. Over 100 health providers (most in the Tompkins County area, but throughout New York State) have agreed to offer a discount on their services to Health Alliance Members. Most offer a discount of 10%, although some offer more. We are continually adding new practitioners to the directory of provider members.

Anyone in New York State can join the Ithaca Health Alliance and participate in our programs. Anyone in the world is welcome to support our mission. Click here for more information on joining or supporting the Alliance.