SOCIAL ISSUES IN THE UNITED STATES
TYPES OF PLANS IN THE UNITED STATES
Managed care plans modify the traditional fee-for-service system of providing funds for medical care. Instead of focusing on paying the costs of treating illnesses and injuries as they arise, managed health care plans operate under the philosophy that it is better and more cost-efficient to prevent illness and injury in the first place. Accordingly, managed care organizations finance medical care in a way that provides incentives for patients to maintain good health. For example, managed care plans may reimburse patients for treatments to help them stop smoking, while most indemnity plans will not.
Managed care plans also attempt to make both patients and doctors aware of the costs associated with their health care decisions. Advocates of managed care claim that by emphasizing health maintenance and illness prevention, managed care organizations reduce the number of expensive medical treatments in the long run. For example, unlike many traditional indemnity plans, managed care plans generally cover the costs of regular immunizations and physical exams.
OBTAINING COVERAGE
FEATURES OF HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES
LEVEL OF COVERAGE
SPECIFIC BENEFITS
HISTORY IN THE UNITED STATES
HEALTH INSURANCE IN
