The Managed Caring Plan(tm)

Welcome to Managed Caring(tm), a whole new way of thinking about friendship. The Managed Caring Plan(tm) combines all the advantages of a "traditional" friendship network with important cost-saving features.

How does it work?
What's wrong with my friends?
How do I know these aren't just a bunch of losers who can't make friends on their own?
What if I need a special friend, say for poker or fishing?
Suppose I want to see friends outside the managed caring(tm) network? Can my best friend ever refer me to them?
What's a friendship emergency?
What friendship procedures are covered under the plan?
Are any friendship procedures not covered under the plan?
How can I find out if the friendship procedure I need is covered?
But who decides what's appropriate for me?
What does HMO really stand for?
Q. Do all diagnostic procedures require pre-certification?
I just joined a new HMO. How difficult will it be to choose the doctor I want?




HOW DOES IT WORK?

Under the Plan, you choose your friends from a network of pre-screened accredited Friendship Providers. All your friendship needs are met by members of your Managed Caring(tm) panel.


WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY FRIENDS?

If you're like most people, you're probably receiving Friendship Services from a network of Providers haphazardly patched together based on where you've lived, worked, or gone to school. The result is costly duplication, inefficiency and conflict. Some Providers may not meet national standards, responding to your needs with inappropriate, outmoded or experimental behavior. Under Managed Caring(tm), your friendship needs are coordinated by a designated Best Friend, who Cares(tm) about the quality of all your Friendships.


HOW DO I KNOW THESE AREN'T JUST A BUNCH OF LOSERS WHO CAN'T MAKE FRIENDS ON THEIR OWN?

Many of today's most dedicated and highly trained Friendship Providers are as concerned as we are about delivering quality Caring(tm) in a cost-effective way. They have joined our network because they want to focus on Caring(tm) for you rather than devoting their resources to the paperwork and high Bad Friendship premiums that have sent the cost of traditional Friendship Delivery systems skyrocketing. Our Friendship providers have met our rigorous standards of loyalty.


WHAT IF I NEED A SPECIAL FRIEND, SAY FOR POKER OR FISHING?

Special Friends are responsible for most of the unnecessary Friendship Procedures that have sent the cost of the traditional Friendship Delivery system skyrocketing. By training, experience, and by virtue of knowing you for what you really are, your Best Friend is qualified to refer you to a Special Friend within the Managed Caring(tm) network should your needs fall outside the scope of his or her excellent training.


SUPPOSE I WANT TO SEE FRIENDS OUTSIDE THE MANAGED CARING(tm) NETWORK? CAN MY BEST FRIEND EVER REFER ME TO THEM?

No. The only time you can see a Friendship Provider without first consulting your Best Friend is in the event of a Friendship Emergency.


WHAT'S A FRIENDSHIP EMERGENCY?

The Managed Caring(tm) Plan covers your friendship needs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year anywhere in the world, even if you need a friend out of town, after business hours, or when your Best Friend is Caring(tm) for someone else. You may be on a business trip and find yourself lonely. In such a case, you may make a New Friend, and all appropriate Friendship Procedures delivered in this Emergency Friendship will be covered under the plan,provided you notify us within two business days.


WHAT FRIENDSHIP PROCEDURES ARE COVERED UNDER THE PLAN?

Typical Friendship Procedures covered include (but are not limited to):
Chewing the fat, slinging the bull, shooting the breeze, hanging out, checking in, cheering up, kidding around, dropping over, partying, moaning, gossiping, joshing, ribbing, holding your hand, patting your back.


ARE ANY FRIENDSHIP PROCEDURES NOT COVERED UNDER THE PLAN?

Yes. Ineligible services include (but are not limited to): drinking in excess of six ounces of alcoholic beverages, lending sums in excess of $5, going the extra mile, exchanging ethnic or dirty jokes, and sex.


HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF THE FRIENDSHIP PROCEDURE I NEED IS COVERED?

If you need a Friendship Procedure, call the toll-free number on your Managed Caring(tm) I.D. card to arrange for precertification of the proposed Procedure. All appropriate Procedures will be approved for coverage within 24 business hours.


BUT WHO DECIDES WHAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR ME?

We do. Isn't that what friends are for?


From a HMO fact sheet posted to the Med-Jokes list by temarey
WHAT DOES HMO REALLY STAND FOR?

The popular idea that HMO stands for Horrible medical organization is untrue. It is actually a corruption of the phrase Hey, Moe! often shouted out by patients at Dr. Moe Howard during his early research on pain. Dr. Howard was the first to discover that a patient could be made to forget about the pain in his foot if he were poked hard enough in the eyes. Modern health plans have discovered that voice mail, pre-certification, gatekeeper doctors and referral slips are equally effective.

Submitted by temarey a participant in the med-jokes list


DO ALL DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES REQUIRE PRE-CERTIFICATION?

No, only the ones you need.
Submitted by temarey a participant in the med-jokes list


I JUST JOINED A NEW HMO. HOW DIFFICULT WILL IT BE TO CHOOSE THE DOCTOR I WANT?
Just slightly more difficult than choosing your parents. HMO will provide you with a book listing all the doctors that were participating in the plan at the time the information was gathered several years ago. Aside from those doctors who have died, retired or left the state, the listings should fall into one of two catagories: those doctors who are no longer accepting new patients and those who will see you but are no longer part of the plan. You should call your HMO voice mail for further instructions.
Submitted by temarey a participant in the med-jokes list
WHAT ARE PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS?
This is a phrase used by the grammatically challenged when they want to talk about existing conditions. Unfortunately, we appear to be pre-stuck with it.
Submitted by temarey a participant in the med-jokes list
WELL, CAN I GET COVERAGE FOR MY PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS?
Certainly, as long as they don't require any treatment.
Submitted by temarey a participant in the med-jokes list
I have a 80/20 plan with a $200 deductible and a $2,000 yearly cap. My insurer reimbursed the doctor for my out-patient surgery, but I'd already paid my bill. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
You have two choices. Your doctor can sign the reimbursement check over to you, or you can ask him to invest the money for you in one of those great offers that only doctors and dentists hear about, like windmill farms or frog hatcheries.
Submitted by temarey a participant in the med-jokes list
WHAT HAPPENS IF I WANT TO TRY ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF MEDICINE?
You will have to find alternative forms of payment.
Submitted by temarey a participant in the med-jokes list
My pharmacy plan covers only generic drugs, but I need the name brand. I tried the generic medication but it gives me a stomach ache. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
A. Poke yourself in the eye.
Submitted by temarey a participant in the med-jokes list
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I GET SICK WHILE TRAVELING?
Try sitting in another part of the bus.
Submitted by temarey a participant in the med-jokes list
NO, I MEAN WHAT IF I'M AWAY FROM HOME AND I GET SICK?
You really shouldn't do that. You'll have a hard time seeing your primary care physician. It's best to wait until you return, and then get sick.
Submitted by temarey a participant in the med-jokes list
WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE LARGEST PORTION OF HEALTH CARE COSTS?
Doctors trying to recoup their investment losses.
Submitted by temarey a participant in the med-jokes list
I THINK I NEED A SPECIALIST, but my gatekeeper doctor insists he can handle my problem. Can a GP really perform a heart transplant right in his office?
A. Hard to say, but considering that all you're risking is the $10 co-payment, there's no harm giving him a shot at it.
Submitted by temarey a participant in the med-jokes list
Q. Will HMO health care be any different in the next century? A. No, but if you call right now, you might get an appointment by then.
Submitted by temarey a participant in the med-jokes list


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