Accessing healthcare in the United States can be overwhelming, especially given the complexity of navigating insurance, medical providers, and legal protections. For many, this complexity becomes a barrier to receiving necessary care, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. Empowered with knowledge of your rights, you can advocate more effectively for your care, and promote fairness and justice in a system often riddled with inequalities.*

Understanding Your Rights: Legal Protections in Healthcare

One of the most fundamental aspects of the U.S. healthcare system is the Patients’ Bill of Rights, a collection of laws designed to protect individuals during their healthcare journey. 

• The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects your right to privacy regarding your medical information, ensuring that it is not shared without your consent.
• The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) was designed to guarantee your right to emergency care, irrespective of your ability to pay. Hospitals are legally obligated to stabilize patients with emergency conditions before transferring them, if necessary. 
• Under the right to informed consent, you must receive detailed information about your treatment options, risks, and alternatives in a language you understand, enabling you to make educated decisions about your health.

Why It’s Important to Know Your Rights

Patient rights are critical for promoting equitable access to healthcare, yet many individuals are unaware of the protections afforded to them. According to surveys, nearly one in 4 Americans feel uninformed about their healthcare rights, leading to potential mistreatment or neglect. 

Additionally, over 20% of patients have reported issues with medical billing, underscoring the importance of understanding and exercising the right to dispute charges under HIPAA and the No Surprises Act.

Under this act, patients can challenge charges that exceed estimates by more than $400.

New Protections and Emerging Challenges

While patients in the U.S. healthcare system have numerous rights, challenges remain. For example:

• The No Surprises Act has brought greater transparency to medical costs, requiring providers to give good-faith estimates for care. Still, systemic issues requiring ongoing advocacy, such as racial and economic disparities, remain.
• The right to refuse treatment remains sacrosanct unless overridden in specific circumstances, such as psychiatric illnesses that pose a danger to others. Even so, patients continue to face difficulties when navigating the intricacies of:
  • End-of-life decisions,
  • Billing disputes, and 
  • Privacy concerns.

By understanding and advocating for your rights, you can better navigate the complex U.S. healthcare system and improve your access to quality care.

*Torrey, T. (2024, May 28). 10 Patient Rights in America’s Healthcare System. Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/patients-rights-2615387 

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