Member Rights & Responsibilities

Florida law requires that your health care provider or health care facility recognize your rights while you are receiving medical care and that you respect the health care provider's or health care facility's right to expect certain behavior on the part of patients.

As a patient you have the right to:

• Be treated with courtesy and respect, with appreciation of his or her individual dignity, and with protection of his or her need for privacy.
• A prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests.
• Know who is providing medical services and who is responsible for his or her care.
• Know what patient support services are available, including whether an interpreter is available if he or she does not speak English.
• Know what rules and regulations apply to his or her conduct.
• Be given by the health care provider information concerning diagnosis, planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks, and prognosis.
• Refuse any treatment, except as otherwise provided by law.
• Be given, upon request, full information and necessary counseling on the availability of known financial resources for his or her care.
• Know, upon request and in advance of treatment, whether the health care provider or health care facility accepts the Medicare assignment rate.
• Receive, upon request, prior to treatment, a reasonable estimate of charges for medical care.
• Receive a copy of a reasonably clear and understandable itemized bill and, upon request, to have the charges explained.
• Impartial access to medical treatment or accommodations, regardless of race, national origin, religion, handicap, or source of payment.
• Treatment for any emergency medical condition that will deteriorate from failure to provide treatment.
• Know if medical treatment is for purposes of experimental research and to give his or her consent or refusal to participate in such experimental research.
• Express grievances regarding any violation of his or her rights, as stated in Florida law, through the grievance procedure of the health care provider or health care facility that served him or her and to the appropriate State licensing agency.
• To participate with your doctors in making decisions about the health care you receive and provide input into your planned treatment.
• Receive information about UHC, its services, health care providers and Members' rights and responsibilities.
• Participate with your health care providers in making decisions about your health care.
• Have a candid discussion about appropriate or medically necessary treatment options for your health conditions, regardless of cost or benefits.
• Voice complaints or appeals about UHC or the care it provides.
• Make recommendations about UHC's Member rights and responsibilities policies.

As a patient you have the responsibility:

• To provide to UHC and its health care providers, to the best of his or her knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to his or her health.
• To report unexpected changes in his or her condition to the health care provider.
• To report to the health care provider whether he or she comprehends a contemplated course of action and what is expected of him or her.
• To understand your health problems and participate in developing mutually agreed-upon treatment goals to the degree possible.
• To follow the agreed-upon treatment plan recommended by the health care provider.
• To keep appointments and, when he or she is unable to do so for any reason, for notifying the health care provider or health care facility.
• For his or her actions if he or she refuses treatment or does not follow the health care provider's instructions.
• To assure the financial obligations of his or her health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
• To follow health care facility rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.