OUR BLOG

Can I go to the hospital without health insurance in the USA?

What happens if I don’t have health insurance and go to the hospital? This is a question millions of people ask themselves every day in the United States. Around 26 million people don’t have a health insurance policy to protect them, joined by over 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the USA, who, of course, for the most part also lack health coverage.

At Dulcinea Insurance, we invite you to read this post, as we’re going to give you first-hand information, with official data, about what you should and shouldn’t do if you go to a hospital without having a health insurance policy to help cover the expenses. Stay with us until the end, and if you have any questions or would like to get a health plan quote, call 786-910-9487 and one of our licensed agents will assist you for free.

Table of Contents Hide

1 The dilemma of not having health insurance in the USA: medical debt and bankruptcy

2 How does the No Surprises Act protect those without health insurance?

3 Are hospitals in the US required to treat people without health insurance?

4 What happens if I don't have health insurance and go to the hospital?

5 What can I do to avoid the high costs of the US healthcare system if I don't have health insurance?

6 Quote the Price of Your Health Insurance Online!

7 Can undocumented immigrants without health insurance receive hospital care in the United States?

The dilemma of not having health insurance in the USA: medical debt and bankruptcy

According to studies related to medical debt and bankruptcies in the USA, around 60% of bankruptcies in the country originate from hospital debt. Currently, there are about 14 million people here who owe more than \$1,000 to hospitals and clinics, and around 3 million Americans owe more than \$10,000.

This sad panorama of medical debt in the United States has common characteristics:

They are people with poor health
middle age (between 35 and 64 years)
of the lower economic class
who do not have health insurance

Efforts by the Biden administration paid off starting in 2022, when it was authorized that unpaid medical bills will only be reported to the Credit Bureau if they are more than 12 months old, and information on debts under \$500 will not be included. This provides significant relief for millions of people who face serious credit issues due to delays or failure to pay health-related debts in the USA.

How does the No Surprises Act protect those without health insurance?

The No Surprises Act, which went into effect in 2022, protects everyone in the United States—regardless of legal immigration status—from unexpected medical bills. Under this law, people who do not have active health insurance have the right to receive a good faith estimate of the cost of medical services (as long as the care is scheduled at least 72 hours in advance).

If the bills received for services turn out to be more than \$400 over the good faith estimate, the patient can file a dispute. It’s important to note that this good faith estimate does not apply to emergency hospital situations. And that’s exactly what we’ll be discussing next—emergency room care.

Are hospitals in the US required to treat people without health insurance?

It’s important to know that under the law—the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)—every patient has the right to receive medical care if they meet the federal standards of what is considered an emergency. An emergency is defined as any condition that puts the patient in a serious state and poses a threat to their life, which also includes a pregnant woman who is about to give birth.

With this protection established in 1986, you have the right (even if you don’t have health insurance or legal immigration status) to be treated in an emergency room and receive care until you are stabilized, and to be transferred to another hospital if necessary. Note: some states are applying exceptions, which we will explain later.

Now, if you feel that you’ve been mistreated by a hospital or that the EMTALA law has been violated, you can file a complaint case at this official link provided by the government.

Issues that fall outside of life-threatening situations are not considered emergencies, and hospitals may decline to provide care if the patient does not have health insurance. As we mentioned earlier, under the No Surprises Act, you can receive a good faith estimate for services that are not classified as emergencies, so you can determine whether you can afford them or not.

What happens if I don't have health insurance and go to the hospital?

Everyone who receives health care in the USA must pay for those services. Some people, who benefit from programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and Obamacare, receive many services for free. In the case of those who do not have a health insurance policy, this debt must be paid out of pocket.

And this is exactly the topic we’ll now cover at Dulcinea Insurance. How to negotiate hospital debts and how to get discounts on medical bills? Here are some tips:

Most hospitals have a patient advocate. They can help you access financial assistance and better understand your bill.
You can contact the Patient Advocate Foundation (a non-profit organization that helps people with chronic illnesses). Their website is available here.
Request a discount on the hospital bill (you can explain that the amount is more than you can afford).
Set up a payment plan with the lowest possible amounts.
Avoid paying with credit cards that carry high interest rates, as this transfers the debt to a third-party entity.

As a clarification, we want to remind you that there are many scams involving entities and individuals dedicated to debt erasure and "credit repair." These services generally involve high costs and can lead to fraud that harms the customer.

What can I do to avoid the high costs of the US healthcare system if I don't have health insurance?

There are several strategies you can use to cushion the high costs of the U.S. healthcare system if you don't have insurance. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Go to community clinics that receive government and non-government funding for primary care.
If you suffer from chronic illnesses, you can reach out to hospitals and universities that offer charity care programs.
Participate in clinical trials conducted to detect diseases related to your health condition.
If you need expensive medications, contact the pharmaceutical companies directly, as they offer programs for low-income uninsured individuals.
Apply for emergency Medicaid if you have low income (it doesn’t matter if you don’t have legal immigration status). You must be pregnant, a child, over 65 years old, or disabled. In this case, it only covers the life-threatening situation.
Apply for a medical discount plan or for health insurance for undocumented immigrants. This allows you to join a network of clinics and doctors that offer you preferential rates for services.

Next track You can read too: How does Medicaid work for undocumented immigrants?

Quote the Price of Your Health Insurance Online!

No annoying calls and in less than 1 minute

Can undocumented immigrants without health insurance receive hospital care in the United States?

The answer to this question is yes. But there are exceptions, as you'll see below. As we mentioned, undocumented immigrants without health insurance also benefit from the protections of the No Surprises Act (they can request a good-faith estimate) and the EMTALA Act (they can seek emergency care at any hospital in a serious situation). Of course, they always pay for the services received.

Until very recently, under federal law, all states in the country required that medical care centers could not consider immigration status when treating a patient. However, states like Florida and Texas have recently broken with this regulation.

In Florida’s case, with Senate Bill SB 1718 signed into law in 2023, and in Texas, through the Executive Order signed by its Governor in 2024, medical institutions are required to request proof of immigration status from patients and to collect this information, and to deny medical care to those who do not provide these documents.

This is a severe blow to the large number of illegal immigrants in Florida and Texas, who, for fear of being deported, will now avoid attending a health institution at all costs.

We hope this information has been valuable to you. If you still have questions about this important topic, or if you’d like to get a quote and enroll in an affordable health insurance plan, call 786-910-9487 and at Dulcinea Insurance we’ll help you for free.

5/5 - (2 votes)

Luis Orlando Hernandez

CEO Dulcinea Insurance

Insurance agent and president of Dulcinea Insurance, with over ten years of experience in the insurance industry in the United States. A journalism graduate with extensive experience in social communication, marketing, and advertising. I hold active licenses for health insurance, life insurance, commercial insurance, and real estate. As the head of Dulcinea Insurance, I have worked with over 2000 clients in various insurance branches.

About the author

Luis Hernandez

CEO of Dulcinea Insurance. Insurance and financial services agency.

Dulcinea Insurance is an insurance agency that operates throughout Florida. We have been providing the best insurance services in the state for over five years. Our agents are fully certified to give you the best service.