Donating to Non-Profit Health Care
We all know the importance of health care. It’s the bedrock of a healthy society, allowing people to live fulfilling lives, contribute to their communities and reach their full potential. But what happens when the safety net of insurance isn’t enough? When the gaps in coverage leave individuals and families facing financial hardship and emotional distress?
Health Insurance Isn’t the Whole Story
Many people believe that health care is simply a matter of having insurance. While insurance plays a crucial role, it’s not the whole picture.
Insurance often has severe limitations: High deductibles, co-pays and out-of-pocket expenses for everyday needs can leave families struggling to afford necessary care. Even with insurance, the average American family faces thousands of dollars in annual health care costs beyond premiums. This burden is especially crushing for chronic conditions, ongoing treatments and specialized care.
Significant gaps in coverage exist
In New York alone, nearly 940,000 residents lack health insurance entirely—and even among the insured, critical gaps persist. Hispanic residents experience uninsured rates of 10.6%[1]—nearly three times the state average—creating profound disparities in access to care. Many essential services fall outside standard insurance coverage, leaving families with impossible choices:
- Medicare limitations: While Medicare covers hospice medical care, it leaves families facing critical gaps, failing to cover everyday survival needs such as heating bills to keep a terminally ill patient warm, groceries, or help with mounting copayments. For older adults in skilled nursing centers, Medicare covers only medical rehabilitation therapy, excluding recreational activities, socialization programs, and quality-of-life enrichment that provide residents with dignity and joy in their final years.
- Medicaid exclusions: Specialized therapies, culturally connected care and holistic support services are frequently excluded from Medicaid coverage, even though they are medically necessary for patient well-being.
- Private insurance gaps: Home care, managed long-term care, specialized dementia care, and comprehensive hospice support are often not covered, in whole or in part, by private insurance. One serious illness can devastate a family’s finances, even with “good” insurance.
Why Not-for-Profit Health Care Matters
1. They address gaps that insurance won’t cover:
Not-for-profit health care organizations like MJHS provide essential services beyond standard insurance benefits—such as extended bereavement counseling, trauma-informed care for vulnerable populations, support for uninsured New Yorkers, and culturally connected care that honors diverse traditions. Without philanthropy, these critical services would not be available to thousands of families each year.
2. They prioritize patient needs, not profit.
Unlike for-profit systems, not-for-profit health care organizations reinvest resources directly into patient care—supporting comprehensive services, addressing unmet needs, and serving patients regardless of their ability to pay. When you give to a not-for-profit, your support goes toward care, not dividends.
3. They strengthen community health and equity.
Not-for-profit health care organizations serve communities with the most limited access to care, working to reduce health disparities across racial, ethnic, and economic lines. In New York, they deliver essential services in underserved neighborhoods, support families facing financial barriers, and create programs tailored to the needs of diverse communities—helping close access gaps and improve public health overall.
4. Caregiver support is critically overlooked.
Medicare’s home health aide coverage is designed to support the patient, not to provide respite for family caregivers. Aside from a limited hospice respite benefit, caregivers receive little to no support to manage their own health, rest, or daily needs. As a result, many family caregivers face exhaustion, burnout, and serious health risks, even as they provide round-the-clock care for loved ones.
Reference
[1] Health Care for All New York. (2025). 2025 Policy Agenda.