Question:

1. Explain how managed care has contributed to the development of integrated delivery systems.

2. What are the various mechanisms used by managed care organizations to monitor and control utilization? Briefly discuss each mechanism.

3. Even though the elderly are the primary users of nursing homes and, generally speaking, Medicare is the primary source of payment for healthcare services provided to the elderly, why does Medicare pay only a small fraction of the cost of nursing home care?

4. Why has private long-term care insurance not gained popularity with the consumers? How do you see its future development?

5. Read this news “Marketplace Debate: Can Exchanges Survive Aetna Withdrawal, Other Problems? “.

Marketplace Debate: Can Exchanges Survive Aetna Withdrawal, Other Problems?

Also, let’s pretend you have no health insurance and want to buy one online. Please try the website Healthcare.gov to find your best individual or family health insurance plan. How do you compare this government website with other private health insurance plan comparison websites (Google “health insurance plans”)?  Please critic healthcare.gov website and give your suggestions for improvement.