Uncompensated Care and the Safety Net

Uninsured individuals often rely on hospitals for emergency care, the most expensive part of the health system. That cost doesn’t disappear—it shows up in everyone’s insurance premiums. This episode helps reframe affordability by examining how charity care, Medicaid, and federal subsidies work together to manage that cost upstream. In this episode, we explore the hidden costs of uncompensated care, how hospitals and insurers work together to support vulnerable populations, and the impact of federal and state policy decisions on health insurance coverage rates in Michigan. Key Takeaways: · Uncompensated care impacts everyone. · Safety net programs are essential to affordability. · Policy decisions carry affordability consequences . · We need upstream solutions.