Low-income families (and those whose income and assets are depleted by high medical costs) are covered by the Medicaid program, which is financed jointly by the states and federal government. Many uninsured get free care in emergency rooms of public and private hospitals and receive free care for chronic conditions in those same institutions.
目前约有85%的美国人拥有某种形式的医疗保险。所有65岁以上的美国人都有资格由政府出资加入Medicare计划。低收入家庭（以及收入和财产被高额医疗费用耗尽的人）可以参与由各州及联邦政府共同出资的Medicaid计划。许多没有保险的人可以在公立和私立医院的急诊室接受免费治疗，并在同样这些机构中接受慢性病的免费治疗。