Health care access
Affordable, nearby medical care and health supplies for residents who face cost or access barriers.
Residents ask for free or low-cost care close to home, including mobile clinics, vision care and CPR/AED training, with growing worries about insurance coverage.
Theme grouped and summary written with AI from this theme's resident ideas.
81 ideas across three cycles
| Cycle | Ideas | Share of all ideas | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 27 | 2.2% | 19 of 20 |
| 2025–26 | 30 | 2.5% | 18 of 20 |
| 2026–27 | 24 | 1.8% | 18 of 20 |
Needs that keep coming back
Free or low-cost local clinics
Residents ask for more free or low-cost clinics and doctors in neighborhoods, especially for uninsured people and areas with long waits or health disparities.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Mobile health units and portable screenings
Residents propose vans, pop-up clinics and portable equipment that bring screenings and care to underserved neighborhoods, schools and community centers.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
CPR and AED training and access
Residents want free community CPR classes, and in 2026-27 also AEDs in public places, so bystanders can respond to emergencies.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Eye exams and glasses
Residents ask for affordable eye care and glasses, including for children, low-income neighborhoods and people with poor vision.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Help with health insurance and costs
Residents ask for help paying for or keeping health insurance, especially for low-income people and immigrants facing coverage loss.
Raised in 2025–26, 2026–27
2024–25
Ideas centered on COVID testing, masks and air purifiers, along with mobile screening vans, needle and sharps services, and CPR classes.
2025–26
Ideas broadened to neighborhood pharmacies, urgent care, mobile eye and dental units, and keeping people enrolled in MassHealth and other coverage amid insurance uncertainty.
2026–27
Many ideas were short or general, while specific asks covered AEDs and CPR, portable screening kits, help with insurance and emergency transport costs, and a free clinic for homeless residents.
New in 2026–27
New or growing asks include AEDs in public places and a registry of their locations, portable screening kits for community center clinics, help with emergency transport costs, and a free clinic for homeless residents.
Funding so far
No winning project funded by resident vote relates to this theme, so every recurring ask remains unaddressed: free clinics, mobile units, eye care, CPR/AED training and insurance help.
Projects are linked to themes by matching each project's description to the themes; this is not an official City classification.
No winning project has addressed this theme yet.
Departments that often lead this work
- Boston Public Health Commission
- Age Strong Commission
Suggested with AI; not an official assignment of responsibility.
Ideas in Health care access
81 ideas
2024–25: 27 · 2025–26: 30 · 2026–27: 24
- Funded programs for better healthcare accessResident asks for funded programs that improve access to healthcare so people of any race or class can get needed care.2025–26City-wide
- Multilingual heatwave safety educationResident asks for multilingual materials on hydration, heatstroke symptoms and cooling center locations to protect vulnerable residents during heatwaves.2025–26City-wide
- Mobile dental units for low-income neighborhoodsResident asks for mobile dental units, in partnership with hospitals, health centers and dental schools, providing free or low-cost dental care in low-income neighborhoods.2025–26City-wide
- Mobile eye care units for low-income neighborhoodsResident asks for mobile eye care units, run with local hospitals and health centers, offering free or low-cost eye care in low-income neighborhoods.2025–26City-wide
- Mobile health units and pop-up clinicsResident proposes hospitals, health centers and public health agencies regularly deploy mobile units or temporary clinics in trusted neighborhood spaces to reach low-income residents.2025–26City-wide
- Free or low-cost health centers in community facilitiesResident asks for accessible free or low-cost health centers within existing community facilities, especially in neighborhoods with health disparities, to reduce cost, language and stigma barriers.2025–26City-wide
- City mobile wheelchair repair vanCreate a city-run mobile van to repair wheelchairs, since repairs are slow and costly and a broken chair leaves users isolated.2025–26City-wide
- Continue free menstrual products in city buildingsRestore and continue the pilot offering free menstrual products in city buildings like libraries, for dignity, health and access for anyone who needs them.2025–26City-wide
- Holistic wellness center in Black and brown communitiesThe resident asks for a wellness center offering free or affordable yoga, safe movement, nutrition and more in Black and brown communities.2025–26Dorchester
- Urgent care centers along Blue Hill AvenueThe resident asks for urgent care centers in neighborhoods along Blue Hill Ave to improve health and reduce emergency room use.2025–26Roxbury
- Reopen community clinics to cut wait timesResident asks to reestablish more community clinics because waits of about three months for a doctor harm people's health.2025–26Dorchester
- Free water stations citywideResident asks for water stations across the city so people who cannot afford or access water can get it for free.2025–26City-wide
- Citywide single healthcare system for BostonResident proposes a Boston-run single healthcare system giving everyone free care without insurance, citing Montana's approach as a model.2025–26City-wide
- Mobile health and resource clinic for immigrantsResident proposes a retrofitted van with bilingual staff offering health screenings and help navigating insurance, housing and education for immigrant communities.2025–26City-wide
- More no-questions-asked public clinics for teensResident asks for more public clinics that serve teens without questions, since they avoid asking for help, which could also prevent unwanted pregnancy.2024–25City-wide
- Train Community Health WorkersProposal to train Community Health Workers to provide frontline health support in their communities and address social and racial inequities in health care.2024–25Beacon Hill
- More diligent, humane health care serviceResident asks that health workers be diligent in providing services and treat patients with high-quality, humane care.2024–25City-wide
- Community resource program for health informationCreate a community resource program helping people, especially people of color, low-income residents and immigrants, access health information such as health insurance.2024–25City-wide
- Specialized health care for formerly incarcerated peopleResident asks for enhanced health care for formerly incarcerated people, including dental and vision clinics.2024–25City-wide
- Community clinics and mental health servicesResident asks to expand free or low-cost community clinics and fund counseling and support groups, prioritizing areas with health disparities.2024–25City-wide