Study links lack of health insurance to inadequate care and higher death rates in the ER

A new study published in the Archives of Surgery has concluded that patients are more likely to die from serious traumatic injuries when treated in the emergency room if they do not have health insurance. Patients with health insurance receive better care, according to the study. The study found that if a patient is uninsured, he or she may experience delays in treatment or receive different care.

Whether a person has insurance should not be a factor in determining the quality of health care received in an emergency room. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) assures everyone the right to receive necessary emergency and life-saving treatment regardless of whether the patient has health insurance coverage. Failure to receive the required emergency care you are entitled to receive may be medical malpractice.