Managed care and traditional insurance: Comparing quality of care

The article compares quality of care under the traditional "fee–for–service" system with that given by "managed care" providers in the United States. Outcomes have been mixed, with most studies reporting on one hand a decline in the propensity of patients of health maintenance organizations (HMOs) to seek treatment and, on the other, lower patient satisfaction. The quality of care has not deteriorated, however, except in the case of that given to vulnerable patients.