health maintenance organization (HMO)  an organization that provides comprehensive medical care to a voluntarily enrolled consumer population in return for a fixed, prepaid amount of money
managed care  comprehensive medical care provided within one firm
managed competition  government intervention in the health-care market to guide competition so that costs are reduced
Medicaid  a joint federal-state program that pays for health care for poor families, the neediest elderly, and disabled persons
Medicare  a federal health-care program for the elderly, and the disabled
preferred provider organization (PPO)   a group of physicians who contract to provide services at a price discount