Managed Care, Heal Thyself

Let’s hope chronic feelings of hostility toward managed care aren’t a risk factor for one’s health. As recent polls document, Americans continue to look askance at the managed-care industry, even while generally satisfied with their own care. The chart shown below, excerpting a poll conducted by Rasmussen Research for Docrates (a career network for physicians), points to one major irritant. In a study commissioned by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard’s School of Public Health, “delays or denial of coverage or care” tied with “billing and payment problems” for people’s top peeve—each cited by 13 percent of privately insured respondents under age 65.