Health Literacy

Health literacy is the ability to understand health information and to use that information to make good decisions about your health and medical care. Health information can overwhelm even people with advanced literacy skills. About one third of the adult population in the United States has limited health literacy.

Limited health literacy can affect your ability to

• Fill out complex forms
• Locate providers and services
• Share personal information such as health history
• Take care of yourself
• Manage a chronic disease
• Understand how to take medicines

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services