What does the term “managed care” mean with regard to health insurance?

The easiest way to define managed care is to compare it with traditional health care. Under traditional health care, doctors and hospitals are independent of each other. Doctors and hospitals set their own fees for services. You can go to any doctor you choose, and you are responsible for determining if your doctor is qualified to provide the care you need.

Under managed care, doctors and hospitals, as well as other health care providers, agree to work together through health …