Going to the doctor has changed a lot in recent years.
Critics contend that with the growth of managed care, quality is being sacrificed for profits.
They unsuccessfully pushed legislation in the 105th Congress that would give patients more rights, including more access to treatments and the ability to sue their health plans. But managed care companies joined by key business groups and major employers proved to be formidable opponents. They banded together to form the Health Benefits Coalition, which spent millions on ads defeating health care reform proposals. The industry group argued that regulation would drive up the cost of health care and increase the number of uninsured. In its ad campaign, the coalition contended that every 1 percent increase in costs causes 200,000 to 400,000 people to lose their health insurance.