Which type of care is a system of cost containment methods used by insurers or their agents to control cost and access to health care services?

The correct answer is managed care. Managed care refers to a variety of strategies and systems implemented by insurance companies to control the costs of healthcare while ensuring that patients receive necessary medical services. This approach integrates the delivery of healthcare and reimbursement, focusing on efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Managed care typically involves a network of providers, such as hospitals and physicians, who agree to provide services at reduced costs. Insurers may require patients to seek care from these network providers, which helps manage costs while encouraging the use of preventive services, thereby reducing the need for more expensive treatments later. In this system, there can also be techniques like preauthorization for certain treatments and referrals, where primary care physicians guide patients to specialists, thus managing overall care and expenses.

As for the other options, they do not encompass the systematic approach to cost containment that managed care represents. Free care does not imply any cost management; rather, it suggests that services are provided with no charge. Non-critical care focuses on less urgent medical issues but does not relate directly to cost containment strategies. Supplemental care refers to additional insurance plans that cover services not included in a primary policy, but it does not inherently function as a cost containment method. Therefore, managed care is the most fitting choice as it embodies a