Aetna US Healthcare	BCBSNC2	CIGNA/ Healthsource	Doctors Health Plan	Generations	Optimum Choice of the Carolinas	PARTNERS Health Plans
Disenrollment Numbers Data from 1999 Managed Care Plan Handbook: A Comparison Guide for North Carolina Consumers
Percentage of Groups that Disenrolled (December 31, 1997-December 31, 1998)	NA1	30% (HMO) 22% (POS)	23%	16%	17%	23%	12%
Percentage of Members that Disenrolled (December 31, 1997-December 31, 1998)	NA1	23% (HMO) 9% (POS)	17%	16%	19%	11%	17%
Percentage of Primary Care Physicians who Resigned (Dec. 31, 1997 — Dec. 31, 1998)	6%	7% (HMO) 4% (POS)	7%	12%	11%	7%	4%
Percentage of Primary Care Physicians who Were Terminated (Dec. 31, 1997 — Dec. 31, 1998)	0.4%	0% (HMO) 0% (POS)	0.1%	0%	0%	0%	0.1%

¹ Aetna US Healthcare did not report the data to the NC Department of Insurance in the format requested.

² BCBSNC reported its enrollee, group and provider disenrollment numbers separately for its HMO and point-of-service plan (POS).

	Coventry/Principal Health Care of the Carolinas	QualChoice	The Wellness Plan of North Carolina, Inc.	United Healthcare of NC	WellPath Select
Disenrollment Numbers Data from 1999 Managed Care Plan Handbook: A Comparison Guide for North Carolina Consumers
Percentage of Groups that Disenrolled (December 31, 1997-December 31, 1998)	33%	10%	22%	13%	18%
Percentage of Members that Disenrolled (December 31, 1997-December 31, 1998)	0%	26%	7%	18%	17%
Percentage of Primary Care Physicians who Resigned (Dec. 31, 1997 — Dec. 31, 1998)	8%	7%	0%	7%	10%
Percentage of Primary Care Physicians who Were Terminated (Dec. 31, 1997 — Dec. 31, 1998)	0%	0%	0%	0.1%	0%

How To Read Disenrollment Numbers:

• Percentage of Groups that Disenrolled in a Calendar Year. Disenrollment numbers may give an indication of satisfaction with a health plan. If a large number of groups leave a health plan, this may indicate dissatisfaction or quality-of -care problems. However disenrollment numbers should be read with some caution. Groups may disenroll from health plans for a variety of reasons. For example, a health plan that raises its premiums may force an employer to choose a lower cost plan. An HMO may stop covering a particular part of the state, forcing some groups to purchase another plan. So while some groups may disenroll because of dissatisfaction with the plan, others may disenroll for reasons unrelated to quality or the care previously received.
  

• Percentage of Members who Disenrolled. In theory, disenrollment numbers may give an indication of satisfaction with a health plan. If a large number of members leave a health plan, it may indicate dissatisfaction or quality of care problems. Disenrollment numbers should be read with some caution. Individuals may disenroll from health plans for a variety of reasons. For example, a health plan may have raised its premiums forcing some enrollees to choose a lower cost plan. An HMO may stop covering a particular part of the state, forcing some enrollees to choose another plan. So while some members may disenroll because of dissatisfaction with the plan, others may disenroll for reasons unrelated to quality or the care previously received.
  
• Percentage of Primary Care Physicians who Resigned from the Plan. This lists the number of providers who have voluntarily chosen to stop participating in a plan. Disenrollment numbers may give an indication of satisfaction with a health plan. If a large number of providers leave a health plan, it may indicate dissatisfaction or quality of care problems. However provider resignation numbers should be read with some caution. Not all voluntary resignations are due to dissatisfaction with quality of care or HMO policies. For example, HMOs that contract with university faculty practices may appear to have a high rate of resignations. But that may be due to the number of doctors who finish their residencies and move away from the service area.
  
• Percentage of Primary Care Physicians who were Terminated. This number indicates the number of providers that the HMO asked to leave the plan. An HMO may terminate a provider from a plan for a number of reasons, including concern with the quality of care provider, failure to follow HMO internal procedures, inappropriate use of services or health care services, or because the HMO stops offering coverage in a particular community.

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