July 6, 2026
Our mission in action: Free clinic serves thousands
For many community members, the yearly Seattle–King County Clinic provides the only opportunity to get vision, dental, and health care services for the entire year.
The dental floor of the clinic serves about 80 patients at a time.
A growing number of people in Washington state don’t have insurance or can’t afford the care they need. In 2015, the Seattle–King County Clinic was created to help close this gap in care access. It’s now the largest free, community-run health clinic in the country.
In April 2026, 120 Kaiser Permanente volunteers joined thousands of others to provide free vision, dental, medical, and mental health care. Together, they served more than 3,100 patients and saved them about $3 million in out-of-pocket costs.
Filling a critical need
Each year, more than 100 organizations and thousands of volunteers support this 4-day clinic, held at the Seattle Center. Many patients are part of the “missing middle.” They earn too much for government assistance but still can’t afford basic health care. Others face challenges like language barriers, transportation issues, or limited insurance coverage.
The clinic offers many important services, including:
- Dental cleanings, fillings, root canals, extractions, and crowns
- X-rays, mammograms, and ultrasounds
- Eye exams and prescription glasses
- Full medical exams and lab tests
- Immunizations
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Mental health support
Patients are also connected to community resources for follow-up care and social services.
Our mission in action
Hundreds of patients file through registration and triage each day of the event. They visit medical, dental, or vision clinics depending on need.
Kaiser Permanente has been a key partner to this clinic over the years, providing health care, follow-up vision care, and community resources. We also help plan and develop the clinic to make it better each year.
“Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to improving community health,” said Kristin Conn, MD, a family doctor and medical leader at Kaiser Permanente in Washington. “By working together with a project like the Seattle–King County Clinic, we make sure people get the care they need.”
Care is in high demand for people who attend the clinic. Daily tickets are handed out at 5:30 a.m. each morning on a first-come, first-served basis. To make sure they get a ticket, some people start to line up the night before. And many patients return to the clinic each day to get all the care they need.
Patients aren’t the only ones impressed by the services offered — volunteers are also amazed at the tools and equipment available. Capabilities include creating on-site 3D-printed dental crowns and measuring patients for prescription glasses, which are distributed in May.
Even therapy dogs from HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response show up to bring emotional first aid to both patients and volunteers. These specially trained teams understand how to handle people expressing intense emotions, stress, trauma, and grief. Dogs are escorted throughout the waiting areas to provide comfort and affection.
“I'm so grateful that Kaiser Permanente is supporting this very important program to ensure access for individuals who need it,” shared Cynthia Dold, regional president of Kaiser Permanente in Washington. “I've seen this partnership evolve and grow over time, and it was an incredible experience to be on the floor myself, helping to provide care to just a few of the thousands of individuals who came through those doors needing care.”
