{"id":355820,"date":"2018-06-20T11:27:30","date_gmt":"2018-06-20T16:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/healthcare\/patient-rights\/is-health-care-a-right.html"},"modified":"2023-12-11T15:53:41","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T20:53:41","slug":"is-health-care-a-right","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/healthcare\/patient-rights\/is-health-care-a-right.html","title":{"rendered":"Is Health Care a Right?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Is Health Care a Right?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Melissa McCall, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

No. There is no constitutional right to health care in the United States. Despite measures such as the Affordable Care Act, there is no fundamental right to medical care in this country. While health care is not a right, laws have created certain health care rights. These rights include legally mandated access to medical care and emergency medical services.<\/p>\r\n

The U.S. doesn’t have universal, government-paid health care. But federal law offers specific protections for U.S. patients. Some laws mandate certain levels of coverage by insurance companies. State laws also protect certain patient rights that aren’t reflected in federal law. For instance, many states protect the rights of qualifying patients to use cannabis<\/a> to treat their ailments. A few states allow terminally ill patients to end their lives through assisted suicide<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

This article focuses on federal laws concerning health care.<\/p>\r\n

Health Care Under Federal Law<\/h2>\r\n

Americans have several sources to get health care. Many people get health care through employer-sponsored plans or the federal health insurance marketplace. Older Americans can turn to Medicare, and indigent people have Medicaid.<\/p>\r\n

Several federal laws help more people gain access to health care. A few of these laws include the following:<\/p>\r\n