That type of plan lets members choose between using certain doctors or paying more out-of-pocket to go to others.

Several other people said they did not like the idea that managed care companies could tell them to use different doctors.

It would require health maintenance organizations to offer their customers the right to pay more to use outside doctors.

Is this simply that older people use doctors less?

Annual deductibles increased to $561, on average, from $488 in 2002, for using doctors or hospitals outside a health plan's network.

Kaiser is even experimenting with allowing members to use outside doctors.

So they were wary of the President's plan, which they thought would force them to use designated doctors.

Are we going to have to fill our demands by using foreign doctors as the British do?

Patients can use other doctors and hospitals, but must pay more, sometimes much more, when they do so.

If we didn't exist and they had to use local doctors, very few would be willing to see them, or would have accessible hours.