The United States is the only high-income country that does not guarantee health care to all its citizens. As a result, millions of Americans are left without access to medical care, forcing them to rely on free clinics and charity events. In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a free pop-up medical clinic was held, where hundreds of people gathered to receive medical attention. Many of those in attendance, such as Giovanni Gonzalez and his partner Grace Frizzell, struggle to afford basic medical care, including prescription medication and doctor visits.<\/p>\n
Gonzalez, a 20-year-old warehouse worker, suffers from severe asthma and cannot afford the $300 maintenance puffer he needs every 40 days. Frizzell, 21, has acid reflux but cannot afford to fill her prescription for medication. They, like many others, are forced to make difficult choices between paying for medical care and covering basic necessities like rent and utilities.<\/p>\n
The problem is set to worsen with President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid, the government program that insures low-income Americans. Additionally, Republican congressional leaders are blocking the extension of Obamacare tax credits, which could lead to premiums more than doubling.<\/p>\n
Many Americans, like Naida Simonetty, 58, are caught in a cycle of debt and poor health. Simonetty makes too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford a private plan. She has racked up thousands of dollars in hospital bills and is forced to forgo regular medical care, opting instead for over-the-counter medications like Advil.<\/p>\n
Patricia Laws, 58, is in a similar situation, with her job as a parcel delivery driver not providing insurance or paying enough to buy a private policy. Her Medicaid application was turned down because she makes too much money, leaving her with no choice but to seek medical attention at the free clinic.<\/p>\n
The need for universal health care is a pressing issue, with many advocating for a system that guarantees medical coverage to all citizens, regardless of income or social status. Dr. William Perry, an emergency-room physician who volunteers at free clinics, believes that universal coverage is essential, comparing it to the way police and firefighters protect everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.<\/p>\n
However, prospects for reform seem remote, with many Americans feeling disenfranchised and disconnected from the political process. Many, like Rob Humphrey, a 39-year-old construction worker, believe that their vote does not count and that the system is rigged against them. Gonzalez and Frizzell, who did not vote in the 2024 election, feel that neither party is willing to address their concerns and provide affordable health care.<\/p>\n
The situation is a stark reminder of the failures of the US health care system and the need for comprehensive reform. As the number of uninsured and underinsured Americans continues to grow, the demand for free clinics and charity events will only increase, highlighting the urgent need for a more equitable and accessible health care system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The United States is the only high-income country that does not guarantee health care to all its citizens. As a result, millions of Americans are left without access to medical care, forcing them to rely on free clinics and charity events. In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a free pop-up medical clinic was held, where hundreds of people […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-222527","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-care","category-insurance"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9ibIB-VT9","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":222463,"url":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/2025\/12\/20\/millions-of-soon-to-be-uninsured-americans-are-seeking-an-alternative-solution\/","url_meta":{"origin":222527,"position":0},"title":"Millions of soon-to-be uninsured Americans are seeking an alternative solution.","author":"Team Small News","date":"December 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Robert and Emily Sory are a couple who live in Thompson Station, Tennessee, and are passionate about animals. They are starting an animal sanctuary at their home, which is currently home to a variety of animals, including a blind raccoon, Russian foxes, African porcupines, emus, bobcats, and goats. However, despite\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Care"","block_context":{"text":"Care","link":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/category\/care\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":222754,"url":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/2026\/01\/28\/as-the-quest-for-affordable-health-insurance-continues-americans-are-exploring-various-options-to-access-quality-healthcare-without-breaking-the-bank-with-the-rising-costs-of-medical-care-many-indi\/","url_meta":{"origin":222527,"position":1},"title":"As the quest for affordable health insurance continues, Americans are exploring various options to access quality healthcare without breaking the bank. With the rising costs of medical care, many individuals and families are struggling to find coverage that fits within their budgets. In response, some are turning to alternative solutions, such as short-term health plans, health sharing ministries, and community clinics, in an effort to obtain affordable health insurance.","author":"Team Small News","date":"January 28, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The high cost of health insurance and healthcare is a significant burden for millions of Americans, making it difficult for them to afford necessary care for themselves and their families. The expiration of enhanced advance premium tax credits (APTCs) in December has led to a significant increase in health insurance\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Care"","block_context":{"text":"Care","link":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/category\/care\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":222659,"url":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/2026\/01\/13\/millions-of-americans-are-anticipated-to-discontinue-their-affordable-care-act-plans-seeking-alternative-health-insurance-options\/","url_meta":{"origin":222527,"position":2},"title":"Millions of Americans are anticipated to discontinue their Affordable Care Act plans, seeking alternative health insurance options.","author":"Team Small News","date":"January 13, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"In Thompson's Station, Tennessee, Robert and Emily Sory are trying to open a nonprofit animal sanctuary, but they have forgone health insurance this year due to the unaffordability of marketplace plans under the Affordable Care Act. The Sorys, who lost their jobs in November, cannot afford the $70 monthly premium\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Care"","block_context":{"text":"Care","link":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/category\/care\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":222654,"url":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/2026\/01\/12\/the-affordable-care-act-aca-subsidies-crisis-is-prompting-individuals-to-explore-alternative-solutions-for-health-insurance-as-reported-by-npr\/","url_meta":{"origin":222527,"position":3},"title":"The Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies crisis is prompting individuals to explore alternative solutions for health insurance, as reported by NPR.","author":"Team Small News","date":"January 12, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The rising cost of healthcare in the US has led some Americans to make drastic decisions to manage their expenses. Mathew, a 40-year-old man from Michigan, is one such individual who has taken a significant step to ensure he can afford his medical care. Due to his autoimmune disease, Mathew\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Care"","block_context":{"text":"Care","link":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/category\/care\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":222669,"url":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/2026\/01\/14\/gop-war-on-health-care-drives-drastic-drop-in-health-coverage-for-working-families-protect-our-care\/","url_meta":{"origin":222527,"position":4},"title":"GOP War on Health Care Drives \u2018Drastic Drop\u2019 in Health Coverage for Working Families \u2014 Protect Our Care","author":"Team Small News","date":"January 14, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The recent data on healthcare enrollment reveals a disturbing trend: millions of Americans are struggling to afford healthcare due to the significant premium hikes that took effect on January 1. As a result, 1.4 million people have dropped their healthcare plans, while many others are being forced to pay exorbitant\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Care"","block_context":{"text":"Care","link":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/category\/care\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":222533,"url":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/2025\/12\/28\/pennsylvanians-are-abandoning-their-health-insurance-as-premiums-are-expected-to-double\/","url_meta":{"origin":222527,"position":5},"title":"Pennsylvanians are abandoning their health insurance as premiums are expected to double.","author":"Team Small News","date":"December 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"In Pennsylvania, a significant number of residents are opting to drop their health insurance as premiums are expected to double on January 1, 2026. This drastic increase comes as lawmakers have yet to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, leaving many individuals and free care clinics uncertain about their future. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Care"","block_context":{"text":"Care","link":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/category\/care\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222527","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=222527"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222527\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=222527"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=222527"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=222527"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}