Press accounts abound with stories about denied care and limits on access under managed care plans.
Although problems arise in any system, many people like managed care and knowingly seek it out and choose it. It has, without a doubt, controlled the costs of health plans to consumers and increased access for thousands of people who might otherwise have not been able to afford health coverage. What is also certain is that the old system without controls on provider utilization didn't work, resulting in spiraling costs. In addition, the large deductibles and cost sharing in traditional indemnity plans were cost prohibitive for many people resulting in less access to care. These problems with the old system were addressed by the managed care plans of today, which offer lower premiums and low co-pays at the time of service.