According to data reported by The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation in 2017, 45% of non-elderly adults do not have medical insurance because of cost.
[4] On March 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act came into effect, which impacted the definition of medical indigence in the United States.
[5] Acts such as EMTALA ensure that every person coming into the emergency room must be treated regardless of insurance, with the patient left with the responsibility of paying the bill.
[5] Many states do not allow people access to Medicaid,[clarification needed] even in cases of extreme poverty, if no minor children are present in the home and they have not proven they are disabled.
These people have no recourse to government provided healthcare and must rely on private charitable health programs, if any exist, in their area.