Many people are expected to remain uninsured even with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. This includes those who cannot afford a plan on the exchange (and will likely be penalized) as well as those who live in states where Medicaid was not expanded and have found themselves in the “coverage gap,” meaning their incomes are too high to qualify for Medicaid and too low to qualify for subsidies.
Long before the Affordable Care Act was ever conceived, charitable medical treatments were being performed in communities to aid those who may have a difficult time paying for healthcare.
These treatments continue to be offered and are usually provided to uninsured or underinsured individuals or individuals whose income falls within a pre-set range, which may be up to four times the federal poverty level.