In 1999, the vast majority of the public did not know the name of the state agency or department that regulates HMOs and managed care plans, and a little less than half of those who had the right to appeal at the time of the survey if their health plan denied them services realized that they had this right. This lack of awareness suggests that passing patients’ rights legislation is only half the story, and challenges exist before such legislation is routinely understood and used by the public.