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After Obamacare cuts, hospitals report more uninsured patients

scienceJul 30, 2026261,029

The New York Times reports hospitals across the country are seeing a sharp rise in uninsured patients after Congress allowed enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies to end. Hospital executives told the Times emergency rooms and clinics are treating more people who lost coverage and cannot pay their bills, and charity care at some hospitals has risen around 20 percent. News outlets and commentary have linked the surge to an enrollment drop in ACA marketplace plans of roughly 3 million people since last year. Hospital leaders warned the rise in uncompensated care is straining capacity and finances. Local broadcasters and hospital officials said hospitals may shift costs to insured patients as systems absorb unpaid bills, and clinics that serve low-income populations report increased demand. The immediate consequence is greater fiscal pressure on hospital systems and more patients relying on emergency care rather than regular, insured care.

Philip Gourevitch
@pgourevitch.bsky.social

Trump kicked millions off health insurance while failing to check inflation & hiking gas prices so uninsured forego care or end up in ERs racking up unpaid bills & hospital profits fall & they raise rates on the insured & insurers hike premiums - a hell spiral. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/30/b...

55945d ago
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