The goal of managed care is to keep health care costs low without sacrificing quality. This is achieved by contracting healthcare providers and referring them to enrolled members. Providers are paid a fixed amount for each person (member) enrolled in the plan. Whether the member never sees the doctor or visits multiple times, the provider will not receive more money than the agreed upon amount. The fixed amount is usually paid by your employer or Medicare. Some plans also require members to pay a small copay for each visit. Typically, the copay is low with no deductible. Prices for prescriptions are also low as managed care plans can benefit more from the bulk