I recall a time in the late 1990's when HMOs were all the rage, so we dutifully signed up for one. I wish I could remember the organization, because I would definitely name it and shame it here (I might be able to glean that data from my Big Book o' Medrecs, come to think of it). I do know it wasn't Group Health, which I regard as sui generis in any event.
The very first action of this HMO was to send us a lovely gift: a hefty paperback titled Take Care of Yourself: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Medical Self-Care. It didn't actually have the words And Leave Us Alone! printed on the front cover, but it might as well have.
I see from amazon.com that this book went through at least nine editions through 2009, and there are hundreds copies available for a penny each, so sending this book as a "benefit" to HMO subscribers must have been a pretty common practice.
I wonder still about the thought process of the HMO marketing maven that led to the conclusion that sending this book would be a good introduction to the HMO. On the other hand, it has the rare virtue of representing truth in advertising.
ETA: I found the book! And I therefore can now name and shame the company:
