Which statement describes a managed care con?

• A. Restricts provider/patient choice and access flexibility
• B. Expands access to all providers
• C. Reduces administrative burden
• D. Guarantees unlimited out-of-network care

Answer: (A)

Managed care plans control costs by steering patients to a defined network of providers and by using referrals or preauthorization for many services. The main drawback is the restriction this creates on where you can receive care and how easily you can access services. In short, provider choice and access flexibility are limited under these plans, which is the con described.

Other statements don’t capture this drawback: expanding access to all providers would run counter to the network approach; reducing administrative burden is typically a benefit of managed care; and unlimited out-of-network care is not provided, as out-of-network options are usually limited and more costly.