In the context of healthcare finance, what is uncompensated care?

Uncompensated care refers to healthcare services provided to patients for which no payment is received, meaning the provider does not get reimbursed for those services. This can occur when patients are uninsured or underinsured and cannot afford to pay for care, or in situations where third-party payers do not cover specific services. Ultimately, uncompensated care represents costs that healthcare providers must absorb, impacting their financial stability.

The other options describe scenarios that do not align with the concept of uncompensated care, as they involve various forms of payment or coverage rather than identifying care that goes unpaid. For instance, care paid for by patients does not fit the criteria of uncompensated care, as it involves a transaction where payment is received. Similarly, high-cost services covered by insurance would indicate that reimbursement is occurring, and care provided under government programs implies that payment is made through those programs.