Getting a Grasp of the Most Common Health Care Insurance Plans
Trying to buy health insurance can be much like visiting another country with a different language.
You aren't really sure what is going on and you tend to find your voice rising a lot! The way to properly find some clarity is to understand what the options are in a simple format.
With that in mind, let's look at the most common health care insurance plans available.
HMO The HMO is by far the most common health insurance plan used these days.
HMO stands for "Health Maintenance Organization".
The HMO has a collection of approved providers you must use to get coverage.
These providers are known as a network.
You are designated a primary care physician who handles your care and refers you out to other doctors should specific diagnosis or treatments be needed.
The HMO tends to be a business oriented insurance plan.
PPO The PPO is a step up in care and flexibility.
The "Preferred Provider Organization" plans are the most common plans for single individuals and families seeking out health insurance.
With the PPO, you usually have a primary care doctor and network of providers similar to the HMO.
You can, however, usually go outside of this network to get care and the insurance will pay part of the bill.
The plans vary greatly, so you need to read them and understand exactly what you are on the hook for and what you are not on the hook for.
Indemnity Plans The indemnity plan is unique in health insurance.
Essentially, you are free to do whatever you like.
There is no network of providers and no primary care physician per se although you should always have a primary doctor so someone is seeing your full health care coverage.
Regardless, these plans work on a reimbursement platform.
You see the doctor, pay the bill and apply for reimbursement.
Depending on your policy, the health care insurer will pay a certain amount of the bill.
There are currently other plans available as well such as H.
S.
A.
Plans, but nobody is entirely sure how health care reform will effect them, if at all.
Most people, however, will find the HMO, PPO or indemnity option to be the best route.
You aren't really sure what is going on and you tend to find your voice rising a lot! The way to properly find some clarity is to understand what the options are in a simple format.
With that in mind, let's look at the most common health care insurance plans available.
HMO The HMO is by far the most common health insurance plan used these days.
HMO stands for "Health Maintenance Organization".
The HMO has a collection of approved providers you must use to get coverage.
These providers are known as a network.
You are designated a primary care physician who handles your care and refers you out to other doctors should specific diagnosis or treatments be needed.
The HMO tends to be a business oriented insurance plan.
PPO The PPO is a step up in care and flexibility.
The "Preferred Provider Organization" plans are the most common plans for single individuals and families seeking out health insurance.
With the PPO, you usually have a primary care doctor and network of providers similar to the HMO.
You can, however, usually go outside of this network to get care and the insurance will pay part of the bill.
The plans vary greatly, so you need to read them and understand exactly what you are on the hook for and what you are not on the hook for.
Indemnity Plans The indemnity plan is unique in health insurance.
Essentially, you are free to do whatever you like.
There is no network of providers and no primary care physician per se although you should always have a primary doctor so someone is seeing your full health care coverage.
Regardless, these plans work on a reimbursement platform.
You see the doctor, pay the bill and apply for reimbursement.
Depending on your policy, the health care insurer will pay a certain amount of the bill.
There are currently other plans available as well such as H.
S.
A.
Plans, but nobody is entirely sure how health care reform will effect them, if at all.
Most people, however, will find the HMO, PPO or indemnity option to be the best route.
