CLEVELAND, Ohio — The number of people who lack health insurance or are underinsured is placing increasing financial pressure on U.S. hospitals, including MetroHealth.

When patients can’t pay their medical bills, hospitals must pick up the tab. This shortfall is called charity care, and it amounts to millions annually at Cleveland-area hospitals.

MetroHealth System alone spent $275 million on charity care in the first nine months of 2025, which equals what it spent for all of 2024, the health system said. The sharp increase prompted MetroHealth to scale back its charity care payments for some patients in a new policy unveiled Oct. 30.

The rise in charity care costs directly correlates with the increase in MetroHealth patients paying out of pocket, officials said. The percentage of pat

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