Taking time to read, understand and act on your rights and responsibilities can help you proactively engage in the health care you receive.

Well-informed people who play a significant role in deciding how they’re going to treat their health conditions are likely to feel better about the decision process.

You don't have time to choose a hospital if you have a health emergency. But if you’re facing surgery or treatment for a particular health condition, taking time to find a hospital that meets your needs is well worth the effort.

The American health care system—a complex union of insurance companies, doctors, hospitals, and drug manufacturers—doesn’t provide consumers with many price breaks. But learning a few tricks can help you, in some cases, get something for nothing.

No one likes unexpected expenses. But you have more control over your health care costs than you may think.

Many forms of emergency treatment take place outside the emergency room, and even many surgeries are performed in locations other than a hospital operating room.

Some differences between men and women are obvious. But others go beyond basic anatomy.

To get the best medical care you can, you should be an informed patient who works closely with your health care provider.

Here are strategies from the Food and Drug Administration to help you cut your prescription costs by 50 percent or more.

Get your timing right, and you'll whiz through waiting rooms at doctor's appointments. Your medications will work their best.

To make sure you’re getting high-quality care, ask yourself if your health care provider is meeting your needs in five areas.

No purchase is more important than medical care, yet people spend more time shopping for houses and cars than they do for their own health care.