Are there laws mandating hospitals to treat people that have no insurance or means to pay for treatments?

Answer 1

Metropolitan areas have hospitals that are designated as trauma centers. These hospitals must accept patients regardless of whether they are insured or have the ability to pay. The treatment must be one of necessity and the patient must be admitted through emergency room or the clinic services department. Likewise metropolitan areas have publicly funded clinics and hospitals for persons who qualify under the age, income status, etc. requirements. Please contact the state health department or the family services division in the area of residence for specific information.

AnswerThank you for your answer, but what I was looking for is if there is a federal law that requires all hospitals to treat people that don't have the ability to pay. For the most part hospitals are privately owned businesses and I'm not sure the government had the ability to force them to give free services to the public. Thank you again AnswerNo, there are not federal or state laws that mandate a private hospital, clinic, doctor or health facility to provide services to those who are uninsured or financially impoverished. In some areas where medical care is limited a hospital is legally required (and ethically obligated) to accept a patient if that person is suffering from a life threatening illness or injury. AnswerThank you very much, you have answered my question. If in fact there were such a law there would be no need for the public to have insurance at all. AnswerAny hospital that accepts Medicare -- that that's all of them -- must treat anyone who walks into their emergency room regardless of ability to pay, insurance or even citizenship. Those who cannot pay go to ER's. For an in-depth discussion of this issue, and why this costs nearly $500 per individual per year ($1200 per year if a family) in additional medical costs, whether you go to the doctor or not. Currently, 55% of all ER treatments go unpaid. That means the rest of us with commercial insurance are unfairly over-charged because of the irresponsible people who don't want insurance.

Search Wiki for Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor ActEMTALA), passed in 1986 at the request of President Ronald Reagan.

Answer

Health insurance and most hospitals are privately owned companies that are independent of one and other. Insurance companies would have you believe that it's someone Else's fault that your premiums are so high when the reality is that it makes no difference how many unpaid bills there are at a hospital. Insurance and Hospitals are INDEPENDENT. Medicaid/care is another matter but that's beyond the point. Don't let people tell you that because you can't pay your hospital bills that you are the reason for their high insurance costs. The insurance companies determine their rates, not hospitals (regardless of how many bills are unpaid).

Additionally, Ronald Reagan DID NOT request the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, he signed it (in fact he threatened to VETO it if it didn't include tax amendments for businesses).