Understanding Your Health Plan Not so long ago, when you needed health care you turned to your family physician. The charges for any treatment your doctor judged to be necessary were paid by an insurance company in accordance with your insurance agreement. Today, a managed care company may be determining what treatment you are to receive, and from whom. Unlike your doctor and your insurance company, managed care companies are neither licensed nor regulated by New York State nor the Federal Government, yet they will make important decisions previously left to you and your doctor. The New York State Psychiatric Association feels that it is important for healthcare consumers to understand managed care, to choose a managed care plan carefully, and to seek safe guards against its misuse.
Employees can often choose among two or more health plans offered by an employer.
In this issue of Mindset you will find a series of questions you should ask before deciding upon a managed care health plan. If your employer believes your questions are important, he may negotiate better terms from the managed care company. You can also communicate with your elected representatives in the state legislature. We buy insurance to protect against the unexpected. Mental illness afflicts a large part of the population.