Health and health care law involves many facets of United States law, including torts, contracts, antitrust, and insurance. This is not surprising since health care is a necessity for every American and involves tremendous expense. National health care expenditures in the United States amounted to over one trillion dollars in 1997.
Health care presents a great number of questions and issues.
In addition to private insurance, there are a number of different types of benefits that offer financial assistance with general living expenses and health care benefits for those who are disabled or financially needy. These benefits, which include Social Security disability benefits, Medicare, and Medicaid, present a host of complex issues. The laws and regulations relating to benefit entitlement, amount of benefits, and types of services covered are complex and sometimes overwhelming. Health care issues also arise in the context of special populations. Elderly people often seek legal guidance to prepare for final medical care, to ensure their final medical wishes are implemented, or to determine their rights as patients of long-term care facilities.