What Texas Reveals About the Obstacles to Getting Hospital Financial Aid

Aimee Carlock needed surgery in August 2025 to treat severe pain and bleeding from her uterus. But first, she needed to come up with $5,500. Texas Health Resources, one of the state’s largest nonprofit hospital systems, told her it wouldn’t schedule the procedure unless she paid up front, Carlock said. The self-employed house cleaner didn’t have the money. “I panicked because I live paycheck to paycheck,” she said. “I have no extra money whatsoever.” Carlock borrowed cash from her best friend and parents. Her father offered money he inherited when Carlock’s grandfather died a few years ago. Only after the surgery did Carlock, 35, learn she qualified for hospital financial aid. Her care should have been free, but the system doesn’t give full refunds. The $5,500 was gone. Carlock’s poor health has kept her out of work most of this year. She took out loans for groceries and utilities and applied for food stamps. It will take years, she said, to chip away at what she owes. “I’m just trying to pick myself back up,” Carlock said. “But it’s really hard.” Hospitals have a tool to automatically screen people like Carlock for financial aid and grant them relief — a process known as presumpti...