Charity care
Charity care
Charity care (pronunciation: /ˈtʃærɪti keər/) is a term used in the healthcare industry to refer to medical services provided without expectation of payment, often to low-income or uninsured individuals.
Etymology
The term "charity care" originates from the English words "charity", meaning benevolent goodwill towards or love of humanity, and "care", referring to the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something.
Definition
Charity care is a form of medical care that is provided by hospitals or health care providers to patients who are unable to pay, either because they do not have health insurance or their insurance does not cover the services they need. This care is provided without the expectation of payment and is often funded by donations, grants, or the hospital's own operating budget.
Related Terms
- Uncompensated care: This is a broader term that includes both charity care and bad debt (services for which the hospital anticipated but did not receive payment).
- Health insurance: A type of insurance coverage that pays for medical and surgical expenses incurred by the insured.
- Medicaid: A joint federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources.
- Community health: A field within public health which focuses on the study and improvement of the health characteristics of biological communities.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Charity care
- Wikipedia's article - Charity care
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