Union Hospital helps patients who can't pay

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - When people come to Union Hospital to be treated they're never turned away even if they don't have health insurance. Dr. Turner of Union Hospital calls this charity care. It's when the hospital foots the bill for the patient's treatment.

In last two years, charity care has risen from 19 million in 2007 to 34 million in 2009. Dr. Turner says that rise due to unemployment.

"I think it reflects the economic situation nationwide and certainly locally," says Dr. Turner.

The number of charity cases this year tops more than 16-thousand patients at Union Hospital.