Wisconsin Hospitals Report $2 Billion in Unpaid Care
Hospital leaders warn that bad debt and charity care costs will keep climbing in 2026 as federal coverage support shrinks.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Healthcare
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Wisconsin hospitals reported more than $2 billion in unpaid care in 2025, affecting more than 2 million patient visits, with charity care and bad debt nearly evenly split. Hospital leaders project bad debt for 2026 will be 18 percent higher than last year.
Why it matters
Patients facing rising housing, food, and gas costs may struggle more to pay medical bills, and coverage denials can shift already-performed services into the charity care category. The expiration of pandemic-era premium tax credits at the end of 2025 adds pressure on the state's health insurance marketplace.
Unpaid care rose 15 percent over 2024 and makes up about 2 percent of total patient charges, according to the Wisconsin Hospital Association's survey of hospitals. Charity care increased nearly 29 percent and bad debt 4 percent, while the 2026 projections remain unverified estimates.
The players
Wisconsin Hospital Association
The state trade association that publishes the annual Uncompensated Health Care Report surveying Wisconsin hospitals on unpaid care.
The details
Charity care and bad debt together accounted for the more than $2 billion in unpaid care reported across more than 2 million patient visits in 2025. Marketplace enrollment for 2026 fell 7 percent from 2025 after pandemic-era premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025.
Timeline
2024 served as the baseline year for the 2025 unpaid care comparison.
At the end of 2025, Congress let pandemic-era premium tax credits expire.
Current marketplace open enrollment ends Dec. 15.
In 2026, marketplace enrollment fell 7 percent and bad debt is projected to rise 18 percent.
Next year, the Medicaid work requirement takes effect.
Healthcare Landscape
The expiration of the pandemic-era premium tax credit increases under the Affordable Care Act at the end of 2025 is now showing up in Wisconsin's marketplace enrollment and hospital unpaid care. Hospital leaders expect the pressure to intensify as the Medicaid work requirement takes effect next year.
Wisconsin patients with unpaid medical bills may face more collection activity or need to apply for charity care as costs rise. Residents enrolling through the marketplace should check plan options before the Dec. 15 open enrollment deadline.
The takeaway
Patients who receive unexpected medical bills should ask providers about financial assistance and charity care eligibility before the account goes to collections. Checking marketplace coverage deadlines and plan costs early can prevent gaps in coverage.
What happens next
Medicaid work requirements take effect next year, and hospital leaders project bad debt to rise 18 percent in 2026 as coverage shifts continue.
Further reading
For broader context on how coverage changes are reshaping hospital finances, explore more Healthcare coverage on Wisconsin.
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