Most managed care organizations still care for those with traditional indemnity insurance in addition to patients insured under managed care health insurance products. Whether a member uses the health service once or a dozen times, a provider who is capitated receives the same payment. The traditional method for financing health services pays physicians and hospitals for each service they provide. A benefit package is the sum of services for which a health plan, government agency or employer contracts to provide. In addition to basic physician or hospital services, some health insurers cover chiropractic care, acupuncture and home nursing care.
Some plans also cover prescriptions and vision care.
Care management also helps to avoid unnecessary testing and care by preventing medical problems from escalating. Credentialing Managed care organizations link with physicians to provide services only after an exhaustive verification of the physician's medical licenses and qualifications. Managed care organizations also re-credential physicians on a regular basis. Exclusive Provider Organization EPOs emulate many of the features of the HMO by specifying an exclusive set of physician and hospital providers, but do not prepay providers and are not licensed according to Knox-Keene Act requirements. The most popular health plan structure in California, HMO members receive comprehensive preventive and hospital and medical care from specific medical providers who receive a pre-paid fee.