What Texas Reveals About the Obstacles to Getting Hospital Financial Aid By Melanie Evans, Tradeoffs Data visualizations by Lydia Zuraw Oct. 15, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/health-industry/hospital-financial-aid-obstacles-presumptive-eligibility-texas-oregon/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mMmqgVwUYxMIANtpjj8L9af3jHgMxr0JRASnUJr5tCg3IybtT87qLRQqzLpZvMr2agk0dJMrIb19nEUJNea2ZyGGLnw&_hsmi=444409016&utm_content=444409016&utm_source=hs_email KFF Health News: What Texas Reveals About The Obstacles To Getting Hospital Financial Aid Aimee Carlock needed surgery in August 2025 to treat severe pain and bleeding from her uterus. But first, she needed to come up with $5,500. Texas Health Resources, one of the state’s largest nonprofit hospital systems, told her it wouldn’t schedule the procedure unless she paid up front, Carlock said. The self-employed house cleaner didn’t have the money. “I panicked because I live paycheck to paycheck,” she said. “I have no extra money whatsoever.” (Evans, 10/15)