ER visits by uninsured patients in Virginia hospitals spiked by 8% last year

Coverage Losses Push More Virginians Into Hospital Emergency Rooms

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA — Emergency department visits by uninsured patients increased 8% at Virginia hospitals during 2025, raising concerns that coverage losses are shifting more medical care into costly emergency settings. The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association classifies these visits as “self-pay,” meaning patients lacked insurance or could not document coverage when treated. Emergency rooms must evaluate and stabilize patients regardles…

ER visits by uninsured patients in Virginia hospitals spiked by 8% last year

Virginia’s emergency departments saw an 8% increase in uninsured patient visits last year compared to the previous year, according to new data from the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. Labeled as “self-pay,” this ER classification identifies people who lack insurance…