healthcare as a right

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React to the following assertion: "Managed Care is good for American Healthcare.
I. What is the impact of managed care on providers of healthcare?
II. How does it affect their freedom to make choices, their incomes, and job satisfaction?
III. What is the impact of managed care on patients?
IV. What is the impact on the cost of medical care in the United States?

Managed care is neither good nor bad for American healthcare; it is merely another choice in how individuals can provide medical coverage for themselves and their families. But, like all choices there are many things to consider, both positive and negative depending upon your viewpoint. Many people feel that managed healthcare seems to be leaning in favor of the insurance carriers, not the provider or patient. In today's healthcare world, it is almost imperative that doctors are participating in various medical insurance plans, including managed care, for their businesses to survive.
The advantages of managed care plans include:
1. Co-payments are pre-determined; a person always knows how much they will be paying out-of-pocket for services. The employee's out-of-pocket medical expenses are generally limited to office visit co-payments and a minimal dollar amount, if any, for hospitalization.
2. Older adults who are on limited incomes, but are not eligible for Medicaid, are able to obtain insurance coverage.
3. Decisions regarding health care are generally made by the HMO, and the patient has access to a wide variety of skilled professionals.
4. Much of the paperwork is eliminated.
5. Quality of care issues have been brought to the forefront. Physicians and other health care providers are now more aware of the type of care they provide and the outcomes of that care.
6. Some limited prescription drug benefits are offered by the plans. However, they usually use a formulary that consists primarily of generic drugs.
7. Cost of managed care is usually less than indemnity plans for seniors and for other persons.
8. HMOs generally offer certain "well-care" services as a covered benefit that may not normally be a part of other types of health plans, such as immunizations, annual physicals and well-child visits. Some services may be offered which indemnity plans do not offer, such as eye exams, eyeglasses, dental care or other services.
9. Older adults sign over their Medicare benefits to the health maintenance organization. The health maintenance organization collects a sum of money each month to provide care to the individual from Medicare. The individual can only see physicians that ...