Anticipated surge of uninsured patients expected to strain hospitals

Communities with higher uninsured rates could struggle to keep their facilities open as additional residents lose health coverage. An expected 14 million additional Americans are expected to lose their health insurance following the passage of the reconciliation bill and the pending expiration of subsidies that lowered the price of Affordable Care Act plans, straining hospitals’ ability to care for patients. The new law also provides less funding to organizations caring for the uninsured. Uninsured individuals often forgo primary care and seek treatment at the emergency department when they are sicker and cost more to treat. (KFF News article, 9/17/25)