What characterizes a narrow network compared with a broad network?

• A. Narrow network includes fewer providers with lower costs and potentially lower access; a broad network includes more providers with greater access and typically higher costs.
• B. Narrow network means more providers and lower costs.
• C. Broad network means fewer providers and higher costs.
• D. Network size has no effect on access or costs.

Answer: (A)

In managed care, network size directly affects both cost and access. A narrow network includes a smaller set of providers, which lets the plan negotiate deeper discounts and control reimbursement more tightly, often lowering costs. But because fewer providers are in-network, patient access to in-network care can be more limited, potentially requiring out-of-network care or longer wait times for certain specialists. A broad network, by contrast, has many providers, offering greater in-network access and more choices for patients, but maintaining that larger network typically involves higher administrative costs and broader reimbursements, which can translate to higher premiums or higher in-network costs. The described pattern—fewer providers with lower costs and potentially lower access for narrow networks, versus more providers with greater access and typically higher costs for broad networks—captures this trade-off, making it the best fit.