Bring a list of the medications you are currently taking.

Please bring food and beverages. Because of the demand for our services, you will likely be asked to wait several or more hours. Therefore, we recommend you bring breakfast, lunch, snacks, and plenty of water. Once inside, there will be designated waiting areas with seats.

Do not bring food or beverages that will adversely impact your blood sugar level or your blood pressure. High blood sugar or high blood pressure levels may prevent us from providing you with treatment at the clinic. Please ensure you bring any blood pressure medication that has been prescribed for you.

Please bring reading  materials or other forms of portable entertainment for adults and toys for small children are recommended.

Anyone who brings alcohol, illegal drugs, or firearms to a clinic will be denied service and asked to leave.

California CareForce is not responsible for lost or stolen items, so please don’t bring anything too valuable!

A limited number of wristbands guaranteeing next-day service will be distributed beginning at 4:00 PM on the evening proceeding each clinic day. You can only receive a wristband for the next clinic day. Wristbands for Friday will be distributed at 4:00 PM on Thursday; wristbands for Saturday will be distributed at 4:00 PM on Friday.  Wristbands will be distributed between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM each evening or until they’re gone — whichever comes first.

These wristbands cannot be transferred to another individual.  If the wristband has been cut, torn or altered, it may become invalid and service, or treatment, may not be given to the person in possession of the wristband. You cannot receive more than one wristband for each clinic day. You will be allocated a wristband which allows you to return at 6:30 AM, 8:30 AM or 10:30 AM on Friday or Saturday. We recommend requesting the wristband for the earliest available time on each clinic day.

You must arrive at the clinic the following day within an hour of the return time stated on your wristband to receive services.

We may also offer services to patients in a stand-by line on each clinic day. Being in the stand-by line does not guarantee service and availability is usually very limited — if we have any availability at all. This line may not be first come first serve, but may depend on the services needed. (For example, if a patient is in need of an extraction and we have oral surgeons available, we may take that patient ahead of those in need of other services.) The services available will depend on the flow of patients who have received wristbands. The recommended way to receive services is to receive a wristband beforehand.

Veterans who have their DD-214, VA card or military ID or California driver’s license/ID cards that have the military designation, do not have to receive a wristband the day before seeking services.  You will be given priority to the entrance of the clinic.  Please arrive by 11:00 am to be admitted to the clinic that day.

Yes. Anyone receiving service MUST have a wristband.

Yes. Children ages under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian throughout the process of them receiving services.

Our policy is to provide only one dental or vision service per patient per day in order to meet as much demand for them as possible. Most patients can receive a medical and dental service or medical and vision service in the same day. You are more than welcome to stand in line for a second wristband for dental or vision service the following day after you have received care the first day you visit the clinic. However, you will have to wait until 4:00 PM to receive a wristband for the next day.

Yes. Veterans do NOT have to wait in line for a wristband the day before. Please look for the “Veterans Line Starts Here” sign when you arrive on the day you wish to receive services. Veterans receive same-day, priority entrance into the clinic. Veterans do not get to cut to the front of the line. Services begin at 7:00 AM on each clinic day. Please arrive by 11:00 am to avoid disappointment. Veterans can receive services on the same day they visit the clinic. Indicate that you are a veteran and bring a copy of your DD-214 or military, reserve or VA ID card or California driver’s license/ID card that has the military designation. Service is not limited to those with an honorable discharge status.

Active members and veterans of the U.S Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserve and their families will receive this service.

No. California CareForce does not have any restrictions on our services based on insurance, income, employment, age, residency, or immigration status.

No. We will not check your insurance and having insurance does not make you ineligible to receive our services.

No. We do not require photo ID.

Yes. You need a wristband for each day you visit the clinic. If the doctor does not provide you with a golden (returning) wristband, you must stand in line to get another per the instructions above.

Dental screenings, x-rays, cleanings, fillings and extractions. Some clinics offer stay plates and crowns. Due to the short timeframe and high demand, dental patients are limited to one dental service (cleaning, filling/s, OR extraction/s). Our providers will assess your needs and come up with the best treatment plan. 

Deep cleanings, root canals and bridges.

If you are currently prescribed a blood thinner and believe you may need an extraction, contact your physician prior to the clinic for instructions on how to manage, if necessary, your blood thinner. If you are regularly tested, please bring your most recent INR test result.

Complete dilated eye exams, glaucoma testing, diabetic retinopathy screening and free prescription glasses made on-site*

Bring your current vision prescription (within one year) to avoid the wait for an eye exam at California CareForce clinics. Please be aware that we may not be able to make glasses for everybody each day due to the high volume of patients. If eyeglasses are the ONLY service you intend to receive on a given day,  please inform the California CareForce line volunteer that you only need eyeglasses made.  Also, please ask for a 6:30 AM wristband the evening beforehand so our Vision Lab can start making your eyeglasses first thing in the morning. Eyeglasses take at least one hour to complete and finish.

*The complexity of your prescription may prevent us from making you a pair of prescription eye glasses on-site. We do have an arrangement with a glasses fabricator to manufacture glasses for such prescriptions off-site though. This will require your glasses being mailed to you following the clinic.

Physical screenings and general exams. Some clinics offer chiropractic, acupuncture, hearing screenings, mammography, and HIV screenings.