Uninsured Florida Gunshot Victims Experience Shorter Hospital Stays

Florida gunshot victims without insurance spend fewer days in the hospital than those with coverage, according to a new analysis by The Trace and KFF Health News. The study, based on Florida hospital data, reveals a disparity in care duration tied to insurance status that raises questions about access to treatment for uninsured patients.

Uninsured patients leave hospitals 2.4 days earlier on average
The analysis found that uninsured gunshot victims in Florida were discharged from hospitals 2.4 days earlier than those with private insurance. Patients with Medicaid coverage fared slightly better, leaving 1.8 days earlier than privately insured patients. The data spans 2018–2022 and includes 1,161 hospitalizations for firearm injuries.

Why the gap matters
The findings highlight systemic inequities in trauma care. Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, a trauma surgeon at the University of Florida Health, noted that uninsured patients often face delays in follow-up care and rehabilitation due to financial barriers. "Insurance status shouldn’t determine survival," she said. "But the data shows it does."

How Florida compares to other states
While Florida’s uninsured rate (12.1%) is higher than the national average (8.6%), similar trends have been documented in Texas and Georgia. A 2023 study in JAMA Surgery found that uninsured trauma patients nationwide were 20% more likely to die within a year of injury. Florida’s figures align with that broader pattern, though the state’s lack of Medicaid expansion exacerbates the issue.

What hospitals say about the findings
Florida Hospital Association spokesperson Mark McClellan acknowledged the disparity but pointed to state funding constraints. "We treat every patient the same, but financial limitations can affect post-hospital care," he said. The analysis did not examine whether uninsured patients received less intensive initial treatment.

What comes next
The Trace and KFF Health News are calling for policy changes, including Medicaid expansion and state-funded trauma care programs. Florida lawmakers have not yet responded to the report, but similar analyses in other states have led to limited funding increases for uninsured trauma patients.

Resources for gun violence survivors
Florida residents affected by gunshot injuries can access free legal aid through the Florida Justice Association (850-224-3705) or trauma care resources via the Florida Department of Health’s injury prevention program.