Language
English (en)
Publication Date
8-26-2026
Summary
With one in five low-wage workers reporting medical or dental debt they cannot afford to pay, financial assistance programs (also known as charity care) are an important resource. Federal law requires nonprofit hospitals to offer such programs, but evidence suggests that workers experience administrative burdens in learning about and applying for the assistance. Drawing upon data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) survey, this brief presents findings on associations between the characteristics of low-wage workers and their experiences with financial assistance programs. The brief also shares examples of how hospital policies and patients’ needs may not align, presenting the stories of people who received assistance from Undue Medical Debt, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to strengthen communities by erasing financially burdensome medical debt.
Document Type
Research Brief
Category
Financial Inclusion
Subarea
Income Policy
Original Citation
Despard, M., Roll, S., Stahl, E., Salvagno, C., & Lande, R. (2026). Hospital charity care and medical debt among low-wage workers in the United States (CSD Research Brief No. 26-25). Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Project
Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM)
Keywords
United States; charity care; Undue Medical Debt; medical debt; Financial Assistance Programs; Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility;
Recommended Citation
Despard, M., Roll, S., Stahl, E., Salvagno, C., & Lande, R. (2026). Hospital charity care and medical debt among low-wage workers in the United States (CSD Research Brief No. 26-25). Washington University, Center for Social Development.