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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Cash payments in the ER are surging as Medicaid coverage erodes. A sweeping Epic Research analysis of 550 million+ healthcare encounters found self-pay ER visits jumped from 5.5% in 2022 to 7.6% in 2026, mirroring a drop in Medicaid encounters. With nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts from the "Big Beautiful Bill" still being absorbed, the financial squeeze on low-income patients is expected to worsen.
Medicaid coverage losses are hitting low-income patients where it hurts most — their wallets. A new Epic Research study analyzing over 550 million U.S. healthcare encounters found that self-pay emergency department visits climbed from 5.5% in early 2022 to 7.6% in Q2 2026, almost exactly mirroring a decline in Medicaid ER encounters over the same period. The trend spans every care setting studied, from inpatient admissions to births to primary care.
The backdrop: Medicaid swelled to cover 1 in 4 Americans during the pandemic, but post-pandemic eligibility redeterminations led to more than 25 million people losing coverage. Now, the GOP's "Big Beautiful Bill" — passed last July — is piling on with nearly $1 trillion in additional Medicaid cuts, including new work requirements and more frequent eligibility reviews.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: As healthcare costs continue to climb and coverage safety nets shrink, more low-income Americans are being left to foot the bill themselves — particularly in emergency situations where care can't wait. With midterm elections approaching and healthcare costs topping voter concerns, this trend is both a clinical and political flashpoint.
