The degree of choice you have in selecting a doctor and hospital depends on the type of plan you select. Think of health plans as being on a continuum, from very restrictive to no restrictions on your choice of doctors and hospitals. How much choice you want is a personal decision. All managed care plans have a list of doctors from which you can choose.
Some plans restrict the list to doctors in a specific organization.
In other plans you can select from a list that includes doctors from several different groups or hospitals. Many managed care plans require that you choose a primary care physician. This is the physician who will provide most of your medical care. He or she also determines when you need specialized care and from whom you will receive it. Most plans will give you a list of the names and locations of their doctors.