Do HMOs make a difference? Summary and implications.
The findings of this study of the effects of health maintenance organizations (HMOs) have implications for consumers' choice between HMOs and other types of insurance: consumers face a trade-off that flows in part from the design of HMOs. HMO enrollees get more primary and preventive care and face lower out-of-pocket costs, but they get less specialist care, experience more provider access and organizational barriers to care, and report less satisfaction, lower ratings of care, and less trust in their physicians. Policymakers should recognize that this trade-off will be attractive to some people but not to others.
Kemper
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Center for Studying Health System Change, Washington DC 20024-2512, USA.
Reschovsky
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JD
Tu
H T
HT
D002755:Choice Behavior; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000592:standards*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000592:standards; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States