How Much Did Floridians Spend on Illegal Immigrant Health Care in 2024?

According to a report released on March 7 by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), the total cost of health care provided to illegal immigrants in Florida was about $659.88 million in 2024. 

This release is the most recent update to the Hospital Patient Immigration Status Dashboard. This dashboard details the total number of emergency department visits and hospital admissions reported based on a patient’s immigration status between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024.

At the county level, the dashboard shows the approximate cost of uncompensated care for illegal immigrant patients. The data is based on whether each admission indicated the individual was a citizen, lawfully present, illegally present, or declined to answer.

While the total cost of care provided to illegal immigrants is estimated to be almost $660 million for 2024, other notable points include:

• Of the counties that reported, Miami-Dade County spent the most on health care for illegal immigrants at about $282.2 million. 
• Of the counties that reported, Union County spent the least on health care for illegal immigrants at about $1,600. 
• Illegal immigrants experienced about 26,185 hospital admissions out of about 3.4 million, which is around 0.77%; however, an estimated 233,903 of the total admissions declined to indicate their citizenship status.
• Illegal immigrants experienced about 67,699 emergency room visits out of about 9.04 million, which is around 0.75%; however, an estimated 604,393 of the total admissions declined to indicate their citizenship status.
• Illegal immigrants experienced about 93,884 total hospital visits out of about 12.44 million, which is around 0.75%.
• Medicaid payments to hospitals for illegal immigrants’ emergency care totaled about $76.6 million.

“The data confirms that the financial burden of illegal immigration continues to strain Florida’s health care system,” declared AHCA Deputy Secretary Kim Smoak. “We will continue working to ensure that hospitals and health care providers deliver quality services to U.S. citizens.”

Governor Ron DeSantis also commented, “The cost of care from illegal immigrants is a direct contributor to the strain on Florida’s health care system. Uncompensated care as a result of illegal immigration strains the state’s limited health care resources and drives-up health care costs.”