The Big Sur Health Center is a nonprofit that exists to serve the health and wellness needs of the Big Sur community. We provide quality healthcare through traditional and complementary approaches that are culturally sensitive and patient centered. It is our quest to be a lifelong healthcare partner for all in Big Sur, regardless of need or ability to pay.
People often think of Big Sur as an enormously wealthy community. In reality, its population is extremely diverse, from the uber-rich to the homeless. Those who struggle to make ends meet often have to sacrifice benefits such as health insurance so they have enough to pay rent and feed their families.
Big Sur Health Center believes healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. We strive to ensure that quality health care services are available to ALL regardless of ability to pay. No one is ever turned away due to a lack of financial resources.
Our sliding scale fee structure for those unable to qualify for one of the government-subsidized programs, ensures that all in our community have access to local quality healthcare. However, with recent government decisions to cut Medi-Cal, the need is even more critical to provide sliding-scale fees for newly uninsured patients.
Big Sur stretches for 100 miles of rugged coastline between Carmel and Cambria. Residents live along the highway, up dirt roads & along remote ridges, some as far as 2 hours away, creating unique challenges. Many residents do not drive and we have no public transportation. This hazardous coastline, with extreme weather conditions and frequent road closures, underscores the critical need for the local presence of BSHC. Our centrally located facility is easily accessible to residents, workers and tourists with urgent care needs. Big Sur is socio-economically, linguistically, and culturally diverse. We serve all ages, genders and ethnic groups. Approximately 1/6 of our population is over the age of 65; 20% are children. Fifty-five percent of our population is low-income; 43% covered by public insurance; another 13% are uninsured. The presence of BSHC greatly reduces these barriers to healthcare.
We absolutely love the Big Sur Health Center! Each of our boys loves going to the doctor's office in the Redwoods. The staff has an incredible capacity for compassion. Their smiles as we walk in make us feel warm and welcome. And the sliding scale policy makes our wallets feel great too! Thank you for providing such affordable health care. We couldn't have done it without you, Big Sur Health Center!!!
- Anonymous due to HIPAA per request, Carmel Valley
