Access to Care
Access to Care is a non-profit primary healthcare program founded in 1988 serving 5,000+ low-income uninsured adults in suburban Cook County and northwest Chicago via a 500-physician network, providing primary care, prescriptions, labs, behavioral health, and vaccinations at flat $5–$40 co-pays.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersWestchester, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Access to Care does
Access to Care (ATC) is a non-profit primary healthcare program administered by the Suburban Primary Health Care Council (SPHCC), a not-for-profit confederation headquartered at 2225 Enterprise Drive, Suite 2507, Westchester, Illinois. Founded in 1988 following a 1987 planning grant and a $525,000 implementation award from the Chicago Community Trust, ATC provides affordable primary care to low-income, uninsured, and under-insured adults living in suburban Cook County and seven designated northwest Chicago zip codes (60630, 60631, 60634, 60639, 60641, 60646, 60656). Members pay a flat $5 co-pay per primary doctor visit, lab test, x-ray, or counseling session, and $15–$40 per prescription fill; these co-pay rates have been held constant for more than 30 years. The $20–$50 annual enrollment fee is currently temporarily waived. The program serves over 5,000 enrolled patients and explicitly excludes children, pregnant women, and residents of DuPage, Will, and Kane Counties (who are referred to analogous County programs).
ATC's service-delivery model is built on a contracted network of more than 500 private physicians and physician groups, 60+ laboratory and radiology providers, and strategic partnerships with Ascension Illinois (behavioral health, up to 8 sessions per member), Cook County Health (specialist referrals on a sliding scale), Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp (exclusive lab channels), Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company (Brenzavvy mail-order specialty drug), and the University of Illinois Chicago (DEEP diabetes education curriculum). Member enrollment is decentralized through 30+ township and community intake sites and centralized through a WordPress-based multilingual website offering online application, document upload, e-signature, and member portal access in 9 languages (English, Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Russian, Urdu). Operational technology is administrative in nature — no public API, no mobile app, no AI/ML components are referenced.
ATC's revenue derives primarily from foundation, corporate, and municipal grants — disclosed grants between 2021 and 2025 total approximately $1.99M, anchored by two consecutive $750,000 grants from Westlake Health Foundation — supplemented by modest member co-payments, individual donations, corporate matching gift programs, AmazonSmile contributions, and an annual fundraising luncheon. Leadership comprises Kathi Franklin (President & CEO), Kimberly Mertz (Chief Operating Officer), John Squeo (Chairman of the Board), Lourdes Becerra and Stephanie Mucha (Director of Public Relations and Outreach), and Gayle Deja-Schultz (Director of Development). The organization functions as a charity-funded healthcare access program rather than a commercial enterprise; no public filings, valuation, or cap-table disclosures are available.
Access to Care firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Access to Care
- Legal name
- Suburban Primary Health Care Council
- Website
- https://accesstocare.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Access to Care is a non-profit primary healthcare program founded in 1988 serving 5,000+ low-income uninsured adults in suburban Cook County and northwest Chicago via a 500-physician network, providing primary care, prescriptions, labs, behavioral health, and vaccinations at flat $5–$40 co-pays.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Access to Care industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Primary Healthcare Services
- NAICS
- Home Health Care Services (6216)
- SIC
- Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Primary Care for Underserved Populations (e.g., migrant, homeless, refugee clinics) (HLAFAGAN)
Keywords
Where Access to Care is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Westchester
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Access to Care business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Member Co-payments for Services: Per-visit and per-service co-payments collected from members at the point of care: $5 per primary doctor visit, $5 per lab test and x-ray, $15–$40 per prescription fill (tiered by generic/preferred brand/non-preferred brand), $5 per counseling session, $5 for mammograms and breast ultrasounds. Co-pay rates have remained the same for over 30 years.
- Membership Enrollment Fees: Non-refundable annual enrollment fees of $20 (individual) / $40 (two-person) / $50 (family of three or more). Currently temporarily waived ($0) to support access during difficult times. Originally designed as a per-member-per-year contribution.
- Foundation, Corporate, and Municipal Grants: Grant revenue from health-focused foundations (Westlake Health Foundation $750K, Community Memorial Foundation, Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation, VNA Foundation, Barrington Area Community Foundation, Chicago Bar Foundation, Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation), corporate philanthropy (Northwestern Medicine $49K), and municipal funding (Schaumburg Township, Village of Schaumburg). Grant funding supports service delivery, COVID response, and member enrollment subsidies.
- Individual Donations and Corporate Sponsorships: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporate sponsorships (cause marketing, event sponsorship, in-kind sponsorship), corporate matching gift programs, AmazonSmile donations (smile.amazon.com/ch/36-3590295), and DIY/third-party fundraisers. Funds provide immediate aid for primary care services to low-income uninsured and under-insured residents.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard membership co-pays (no tiering by income within eligibility) |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual membership enrollment fee |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | $0 mail-order Brenzavvy prescription (specialty drug carve-out) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Access to Care product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Access to Care is a non-profit primary health care membership program that assigns enrolled low-income, uninsured, and under-insured adult residents of suburban Cook County and northwest Chicago to a local participating primary care physician. Members pay a $5 co-pay for unlimited doctor visits and lab/x-ray services, $15-$40 for prescription fills, $5 per behavioral health counseling session (up to 8 sessions), and $0 for flu and pneumonia vaccinations at participating pharmacies, with specialist referrals coordinated to Cook County Health on a sliding scale.
Product overview
Access to Care (ATC) is a single unified non-profit primary health care program (not a platform-plus-modules architecture) administered by the Suburban Primary Health Care Council. The core offering is the ATC Program itself, around which the following products/modules are organized: three core benefits (Primary Doctor Visits, Lab Tests & X-Rays, Prescriptions); expanded benefits (Counseling / Behavioral Health Sessions, Free Flu & Pneumonia Vaccinations, Diabetic Test Strips, and Help with Non-Medical Needs via the ATC Resource Desk); a specialty partnership benefit (Brenzavvy Prescription via Cost Plus Drugs); a Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP); a Health Topics education library; the AccessLine member newsletter; a Member Portal and online application supporting enrollment; an ATC Intake Sites network; and an ATC Provider Network. Supporting engagement around these offerings are an Annual Luncheon fundraiser and an Email List sign-up.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AccessLine: Access to Care's printed and electronic member newsletter keeping members informed about membership benefits, resources, and healthy living information.
Products and services
- Access to Care (ATC) Program A non-profit primary health care membership program administered by the Suburban Primary Health Care Council, serving low-income, uninsured, and under-insured adult residents of suburban Cook County and northwest Chicago. Members are assigned to a local primary care physician and receive doctor visits, lab/x-rays, prescriptions, vaccinations, counseling, and specialist referral navigation for flat low co-pays.
- Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP) A six-week workshop program developed by the University of Illinois Chicago and offered by Access to Care to help individuals with pre-diabetes or diabetes, their relatives, and caregivers learn diabetes self-care. The program consists of eight learning modules (understanding the body, risk factors, glucose monitoring, physical activity, meal planning, complications, medications, and living with diabetes) delivered in person or virtually under license from UIC.
- Brenzavvy Prescription via Cost Plus Drugs A specialty mail-order prescription offering allowing Access to Care members to fill Brenzavvy diabetes medication exclusively through Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company at a $0 co-pay via CostPlusDrugs.com. All other prescriptions continue to be filled at the member's regular participating pharmacy.
Quantifiable outcome
- Core benefits offered at the same co-pay rate for over 30 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Access to Care
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Access to Care technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature4 records
Access to Care partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Ascension Illinois (behavioral health)coreAscension Illinois delivers behavioral health counseling services to Access to Care members — an initial assessment plus up to 8 counseling sessions at a $5 co-pay. Sessions are available in-person, virtually, or by phone. Members call Ascension Illinois at 708-786-8505 to schedule; Ascension operates a 24/7 Crisis Hotline (708-681-HELP / 4357).
- Cook County HealthcoreCook County Health accepts Access to Care specialist referrals at sliding-scale fees based on income. ATC physicians forward member information to Cook County Health, which contacts the member directly with appointment details. Cook County Board of Commissioners originally granted ATC special funding to serve medically indigent residents in suburban Cook County and parts of northwest Chicago.
- Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company (Cost Plus Drugs)majorMail-order pharmacy partner for the Brenzavvy diabetes medication. ATC members receive Brenzavvy at a $0 co-pay exclusively through CostPlusDrugs.com; provider and member ordering instructions are available via ATC PDFs.
- Quest DiagnosticscoreExclusive contracted laboratory services partner — ATC members receive covered lab services only at Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp facilities (members call 866-697-8378 or visit questdiagnostics.com).
- LabCorpcoreCo-exclusive contracted laboratory services partner with Quest Diagnostics — ATC members receive covered lab services only at LabCorp facilities (members call 888-522-2677 or visit labcorp.com).
- University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)majorDeveloper and licensor of the Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP™) workshop curriculum. Access to Care is a licensed program delivery partner, offering the 6-week, 8-module diabetes self-management workshop to members with pre-diabetes or diabetes in person or virtually.
- Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH)corePublic health partner for COVID-19 vaccine outreach and a member of the Suburban Primary Health Care Council (SPHCC). Joint program: "Destination: Vaccination" — free rides to vaccination sites via hotline 833-308-1988.
- Metropolitan Family ServicesminorSub-grant partnership within the Portage Park and Norwood Park Health Equity Coalition — part of the Protect Chicago Northwest region initiative led by the Northwest Center. Coalition aims to decrease health inequities in these Chicago neighborhoods impacted by COVID-19. ATC acts as vaccine ambassador and connects residents to primary care.
- Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt (CCLAHD)minorEducational/outreach partnership — Access to Care educates its members and healthcare providers about free legal aid for eviction, foreclosure, consumer debt, and tax deed issues via CCLAHD. Initial outreach funded by a $4,000 grant from the Chicago Bar Foundation (January 2022).
- Community Advocacy & Outreach Partners (Townships, Chambers of Commerce, faith-based organizations, food pantries, public health departments, local newspapers and TV stations)coreAccess to Care maintains ongoing outreach and co-marketing partnerships with Cook County Commissioners, townships and municipalities, Chambers of Commerce, social service agencies, community advocacy groups, schools, churches, food pantries, local newspapers and TV stations, and community foundations — collectively enabling member referrals and outreach at local events, health fairs, and webinars.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Access to Care competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Greater Elgin Family Care Centers: FQHC serving uninsured and under-insured residents in the Elgin / Kane County area. ATC refers Kane County residents elsewhere, but Greater Elgin operates a structurally similar mission serving the same income-eligible population just outside ATC's footprint.
Direct peers
- ACCESS Community Health Network: A Chicago-area FQHC network that is also referenced as one of ATC's partner intake sites. ACCESS serves a similar low-income, uninsured population across Chicago's southwest side and suburbs with primary and preventive care.
- Access DuPage: A virtually identical 'Access to Care'-style program for DuPage County residents who fall in the Medicaid coverage gap. ATC refers DuPage residents to this program directly, making it the closest structural analog and a direct geographic peer.
- Near North Health Service Corporation: Chicago FQHC serving uninsured and under-insured residents with affordable primary care, behavioral health, and pharmacy services. Comparable mission to ATC but delivered through owned clinics rather than a contracted physician network.
- Aunt Martha's Health & Wellness: Illinois-based FQHC serving Medicaid, uninsured, and under-insured residents with primary care, behavioral health, and social services. ATC explicitly partners with Aunt Martha's as a community intake site, making it a directly comparable safety-net provider.
- CountyCare Health Plan: Cook County's own Medicaid managed care plan, which ATC explicitly refers ineligible Chicago residents to. Both serve low-income adults in the same Chicago-area geography, but CountyCare operates as insurance whereas ATC is a self-pay subscription program for the uninsured.
- TCA Health: Chicago-area FQHC listed as an ATC intake site partner. Provides primary, behavioral, and preventive care to underserved populations on Chicago's south side — directly comparable safety-net mission and Chicago geography.
Broad incumbents
- Ascension Illinois: Major regional health system that delivers ATC's behavioral health counseling services. While not a direct safety-net peer, Ascension Illinois is the operational partner for ATC's behavioral health benefit and shares an overlapping commitment to serving low-income Illinois residents.
- Cook County Health (CCH): Public health system that accepts ATC's specialist referrals on a sliding-fee basis and is the original political sponsor of ATC's special funding grant. Overlapping mission but vastly larger scale as a public hospital and clinic system.
- Erie Family Health Centers: Federally Qualified Health Center serving low-income and uninsured Chicago-area residents with sliding-fee primary, behavioral, and preventive care. Comparable mission and target population but operates its own clinics rather than a contracted physician network.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Access to Care social profiles
Digital presenceAccess to Care financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Access to Care leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Access to Care funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Access to Care M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Access to Care
What does Access to Care do?
Access to Care is a non-profit primary health care membership program that assigns enrolled low-income, uninsured, and under-insured adult residents of suburban Cook County and northwest Chicago to a local participating primary care physician. Members pay a $5 co-pay for unlimited doctor visits and lab/x-ray services, $15-$40 for prescription fills, $5 per behavioral health counseling session (up to 8 sessions), and $0 for flu and pneumonia vaccinations at participating pharmacies, with specialist referrals coordinated to Cook County Health on a sliding scale.
Is Access to Care a public or private company?
Access to Care is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Access to Care founded?
Access to Care was founded in 1988. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Access to Care based?
Access to Care is headquartered in Westchester, United States, in the North America region.
How does Access to Care make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Member Co-payments for Services are the primary driver. The others are membership Enrollment Fees, foundation, Corporate, and Municipal Grants and individual Donations and Corporate Sponsorships.
Who are Access to Care's main competitors?
Greater Elgin Family Care Centers is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are ACCESS Community Health Network, Access DuPage, Near North Health Service Corporation, Aunt Martha's Health & Wellness, CountyCare Health Plan and TCA Health. Broad incumbents are Ascension Illinois, Cook County Health (CCH) and Erie Family Health Centers.
Does Access to Care have an API?
No public API is recorded for Access to Care.
What industry is Access to Care in?
Access to Care's product category is Community Primary Healthcare Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFAGAN, Primary Care for Underserved Populations (e.g., migrant, homeless, refugee clinics). Its NAICS code is 6216 and its SIC code is 8090.