Uncompensated Care for the Uninsured in 2013: A Detailed Examination

With the enactment of the ACA, millions of previously uninsured individuals will gain insurance coverage through either Medicaid or private plans purchased through the health care marketplaces.  As people gain coverage, providers’ costs associated with caring for uninsured individuals that previously went uncompensated will decline, as more people have a direct source of payment (insurance) for their care.  This report examines uncompensated care in 2013, just before implementation of health reform’s major coverage provisions. These estimates provide an important baseline against which to measure major changes that are occurring under the ACA.