Health literacy is a person's ability to access, understand, appraise and apply health information to make judgments and decisions about their healthcare, disease prevention and promotion to improve their quality of life. It is determined by education level but also mediates the relationship between socioeconomic status and health outcomes. People with low health literacy have more difficulty navigating healthcare systems and following treatment plans, resulting in worse health and higher costs. Improving health literacy requires a coordinated effort between healthcare providers, through simplifying communication and materials, and policymakers, through expanding health education programs.