Title: Can a Hospital Refuse Treatment Without Insurance? | Pocketsense
Headings: Can a Hospital Refuse Treatment Without Insurance?
Can a Hospital Refuse Treatment Without Insurance?
Covered Hospitals
Fines and Penalties
Screening and Discharge
ER Charges and Collections

Content: Can a Hospital Refuse Treatment Without Insurance? | Pocketsense
Can a Hospital Refuse Treatment Without Insurance? •••
Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images
By: Tom Streissguth
Updated December 12, 2019
Share It
Share
Tweet
Post
Email
Print
Related
6 Tips to Save Using the Most Popular Food Delivery Apps
Learn More →
Lacking health insurance can prevent you from getting medical treatment, but federal law makes one exception for hospital emergency rooms. The law dates to 1986 and the passage of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. This requires certain hospitals to treat acutely ill patients, whether or not they have medical insurance. Covered Hospitals
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act provides that any hospital accepting funds from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare must accept all acute patients that present at an emergency room. The majority of hospitals accept reimbursements from CMS -- Medicare and Medicaid -- since this is the only health insurance available to a significant portion of their patients. The law applies uniformly across the United States and all US territories. Fines and Penalties
Any hospital in violation of the EMTALA can be assessed fines of up to $50,000 for every violation of the law.