Nonprofit Serves Hundreds in Comal and Guadalupe Counties. The Volunteers in Medicine clinic, operated by New Braunfels Christian Ministries, provided free medical and dental care to 758 uninsured individuals in 2024. Located at 1239 W. San Antonio Street in New Braunfels, the clinic serves residents of Comal and Guadalupe counties who meet specific income requirements.
To qualify for care, individuals must be uninsured, live in either county, and have an income below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this means an individual earning less than $39,125 annually or a two-person household making under $52,875.
In Comal County, 13.3% of residents are uninsured, while the figure stands at 13.8% in Guadalupe County. Statewide, Texas has an uninsured rate of 18.8%, according to the 2022 U.S. Census Small Area Health Insurance Estimates.
The clinic is staffed by a nurse practitioner, a dental hygienist, and a registered nurse. It also offers specialized care in areas such as cardiology and urology. Local doctors often volunteer their time or refer a limited number of patients to be treated at no cost, said Jim Wesson, executive director of New Braunfels Christian Ministries.
In addition to its main location, Volunteers in Medicine operates a satellite clinic at the Community Resource & Recreation Center in Canyon Lake, located at 1917 FM 2673.
“A number of folks in the Canyon Lake area struggle with transportation to get to New Braunfels, and the satellite clinic helps us reach those patients,” Wesson said.
Wesson emphasized that the nonprofit’s mission is to offer care with compassion and support. “We know we’re not the only answer for healthcare needs, but we are one answer for people who don’t have insurance,” he said. “And we’ve certainly been that answer for 758 patients in 2024.”
