(NewsNation) — As health insurance premiums for 2026 skyrocket, Americans struggling with the cost could be eligible for free health care if they know where to look for it.
Dr. Bill Hennessey, a self-described whistleblower on health care costs, joined NewsNation’s “CUOMO” on Thursday to discuss Affordable Care Act subsidies. Hennessey tells NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo that many people don’t realize lower-income Americans can receive free care at some hospitals without insurance.
“100 million people qualify for free and discounted care at nonprofit hospitals, so most of those that qualify for the subsidies, Chris, they’re entitled to free care,” Hennessey said. “If you’re in New York, you could be a family of three or four making $100,000, you’re entitled to free care, I repeat, free care at hospitals without insurance.”
What is hospital charity care?
What Hennessey is referring to is known as hospital charity care. According to the Internal Revenue Service, “charity care” or “financial assistance” is “free or discounted health services provided to persons who meet the organization’s eligibility criteria for financial assistance and are unable to pay for all or a portion of the services.”
Who is eligible for charity care?
This depends on many things, but mostly someone’s income and financial assets. Put simply, even if you don’t make much money, if the hospital can prove you have a lot lying around, they will not give as much assistance as they would to someone with less in the proverbial or literal bank.
Each hospital system has different policies, but they are required to disclose them on their website.
Mayo Clinic and AdventHealth, for example, offer at least some financial assistance to people making up to 400% of the poverty line. NewYork-Presbyterian‘s policy says it will work with families with incomes up to 600% of the federal poverty line.
Dollar For is a non-profit that helps people navigate these details and apply for financial assistance from their hospital.
Dollar For notes there is no federal law requiring for-profit or other hospitals to offer charity care, but there are some charity care rules for nonprofit hospitals. The IRS requires these hospitals to give patients 240 days to apply after they get the bill, and to pause sending a bill to collections while they are receiving financial assistance.
Nonprofit hospitals make up about 49% of all hospitals in the U.S., according to the American Hospital Association.