What is a key feature of managed care plans?

A key feature of managed care plans is the emphasis on preventive care and typically lower costs. Managed care organizations are designed to reduce healthcare costs while improving the quality of care and health outcomes for members. They achieve this by promoting preventive measures, such as regular check-ups and screenings, which can help identify health issues early, ultimately leading to less expensive interventions and treatments. This focus on prevention is instrumental in helping to keep the overall healthcare costs down, as it reduces the need for more extensive medical interventions that can arise from untreated conditions.

In contrast to this approach, allowing members to seek care from any provider without restrictions tends to be characteristic of indemnity or fee-for-service plans, which do not control network access as strictly as managed care plans do. Additionally, managed care plans generally have lower premiums due to their controlled care environments, meaning the expectation of higher premiums is not accurate. Lastly, while many managed care plans impose limitations on coverage for pre-existing conditions for an initial period, they typically cannot refuse coverage altogether due to regulations against such practices, particularly under the Affordable Care Act. Therefore, the correct option captures the essence of managed care effectively.