Improving Healthcare Access in Utah County
How can individuals receive support and access to medical resources when costs continue to steadily climb? As healthcare affordability becomes an increasing concern for many individuals across Utah County,1 clinics, like the Bingham Family Clinic, located on the Utah Valley University (UVU) campus in Orem, Utah, are filling critical gaps in access to care. The Bingham Family Clinic provides free medical care and resources to uninsured individuals whose income falls at or below 300% of the federal poverty level.2
The federal poverty level is an income threshold set by the United States government used to determine a household’s eligibility for needs-based government assistance.3 It is decided by two primary factors: household size and household income,4 meaning that healthcare assistance eligibility can vary significantly from household to household. For example, Utah Medicaid typically assists individuals whose monthly household income falls between 55% and 133% of the federal poverty level.5
According to the United States Census Bureau, approximately 10.2% of the Orem population lives below the federal poverty level.6 In a community where many individuals face financial hardship, the Bingham Family Clinic aims to ensure that a lack of finances does not prevent people from receiving necessary medical care.
Due to rising medical costs and insurance premiums, many working individuals earn too much to qualify for government assistance while still being unable to afford private health insurance. This creates a healthcare “coverage gap” for uninsured individuals. Meaning, some Orem residents live without reliable access to medical care despite maintaining steady employment.7
The more I start paying for my own medical [expenses], the more expensive I realize it is. Every time I go to pay for something, I think, ‘If I didn’t have insurance, I could not do this.’
A Community Response to Rising Healthcare Needs
The Bingham Family Clinic responds to the healthcare coverage gap in Utah County by offering care to those who otherwise would be unable to afford or access it.
Supported by the Marc C. and Deborah H. Bingham Foundation, the clinic provides free healthcare services through a volunteer-based model to under-served individuals throughout Utah County. These services include medical exams, chronic care management, preventative care, dental hygiene, and on-site pharmacies.8
“They want it to be the highest quality care that you can get,” Holden explained. “They want people to receive quality care with integrity.”
Since opening, the clinic has been staffed by volunteer medical professionals. They work alongside students, offering mentorship and hands-on clinical learning opportunities.
This model creates long-term benefits for both students and patients. Students gain valuable, practical experience in a clinical setting, while patients receive compassionate and attentive medical support from dedicated volunteers.
BYU Students Step in Through Social Impact Projects
As part of their Ballard Center Social Impact Project (SIP) class, six BYU students collaborated with the Bingham Family Clinic over several months to support outreach and advertising efforts. Several of these students had personal experiences with healthcare that drew them to the issue.
Jeremy Wright, a BYU student studying entrepreneurial management, offered insight into how his own healthcare experiences helped shape his perspective on accessibility. “There were doctors I wanted to go to, but I couldn’t because our insurance didn’t cover it,” he said. “Healthcare is just so expensive.”
Encouraged by the cause and eager to get involved, these students began working on how to increase community awareness of the clinic and its services. “When the clinic first opened, almost no one came in because people simply didn’t know it existed,” Holden said. “Our biggest challenge became figuring out how to get the word out.”
To address this barrier, the team researched uninsured individuals within the healthcare coverage gap. They analyzed employment patterns, communication habits, and demographic trends to understand how the clinic’s intended audience generally accessed information and healthcare resources.
Part of their research involved studying ALICE households, meaning “Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.”9 Sarah Ann Huber, SIP team member and BYU public health student, explained that as part of their research process they “learned a lot about ALICE households. [There are] people who are working low-paying jobs and don’t qualify for many government programs but still can’t afford health insurance.” These households usually include working individuals and families who are earning an income greater than the established federal poverty level, while still struggling to consistently afford necessities such as housing, transportation, food, childcare, and healthcare.
Using demographic mapping and outreach analysis, the students identified patterns surrounding ALICE households and underserved populations throughout Utah County. They used their findings to shape outreach strategies specifically designed to connect individuals with the free healthcare services available through the Bingham Family Clinic.
Outreach Strategies: Partnerships and Social Media
After completing their research, the students focused on making the clinic’s resources more accessible to uninsured individuals by building partnerships with local nonprofits and schools. They attended a school resource fair and collaborated with nurses, counselors, and principals to raise awareness about the clinic’s services.
In addition, the team leveraged social media to expand the clinic’s reach. Because the clinic had been recently established, it lacked a defined Facebook strategy. The students developed brand guidelines to ensure consistency across all content published. They also researched effective social media practices and conducted a training to help the organization promote its services to its target audience.
By tailoring messaging toward the clinic’s intended demographic, the students hoped to increase awareness and accessibility for those most in need of medical care. “It’s super cool that even though we’re still students, we can apply the gifts and talents we’ve developed to do something that has real impact,” Huber said.
Their work reflected a larger principle emphasized throughout the Ballard Center: meaningful social impact begins by understanding the needs of a community and responding with practical, people-centered solutions.
Looking Ahead
Moving forward, the Bingham Family Clinic hopes to reach a larger audience and foster a healthy community through high-quality, accessible care.
When reflecting on the project, Holden commented, “There are people in your own community who need this clinic. Even if you don’t realize it, there are people around you who can benefit from these services.” The Bingham Family Clinic serves as a powerful example of how cross-collaboration can leverage and combine various skills, expertise, and resources so that community members can to Do Good. Better. together.