All of the following statements about the gatekeeper system are true, except:

The correct answer highlights a misunderstanding about the gatekeeper system in health insurance. The statement regarding the need for the insured to utilize their primary physicians who authorize all care for the insured is misleading, as it implies an absolute necessity that is not universally applicable to all health plans.

In the gatekeeper system, which is commonly associated with Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), the primary care physician (PCP) serves as the gatekeeper who authorizes referrals to specialists and additional care. While this is a defining characteristic of the gatekeeper model, not all insured individuals must always go through their primary physician for every type of care, especially in health plans that may allow self-referrals for certain specialists or services.

Moreover, the role of the gatekeeper is more about managing and coordinating care rather than exercising an all-encompassing authority over every aspect of an insured's healthcare decisions. The flexibility can vary based on specific plan structures and the types of services sought, such as emergency care, where direct access to specialists might not require prior authorization from a primary physician.

In summary, while having a primary physician play a crucial role in managing care is central to the gatekeeper concept, the assertion that the insured must utilize their primary physician for all care misrepresents