When it comes to medical care, it's not just about having affordable family health insurance. It's important for people to have quality care when they visit the doctor or hospital.

A recent study by a CareChex, part of a group that specializes in rating hospital and doctor care, found there is a wide level of disparity in care levels from state to state and from urban to more rural areas.

While North Carolina ranked low for quality care, it was rated high in patient satisfaction. On the other hand, Connecticut and Ohio scored well in quality, but low on patient satisfaction. The District of Columbia, however, ranked the lowest for both quality and patient satisfaction.

National Business Coalition on Health President and CEO Andrew Webber says the survey reveals that just because a patient's aliments are cured, doesn't mean they had a satisfactory experience.

"From the perspective of employers and purchaser-based coalitions, employee satisfaction with the care they receive is an important part of the hospital's overall value equation - there's simply no reason why we shouldn't expect quality care to be provided along with a positive patient experience," says Webber.

Health website WebMD says there are ways consumers can take charge of their care while in the hospital. They suggest patients learn their rights and plan ahead, among other things.