California Health Care Insurance 101
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About California
PPOs, EPOs and HMOs
When you’re looking for health insurance in California,
it’s important that you understand the difference between
PPOs, EPOs and HMOs.
GotAffordableHealthInsurance.com
offers a variety of insurance plans
from a wide selection
of providers. When you’re trying to decide what
health insurance to buy, consider price, convenience and the coverage's
provided.
The best insurance policy for your needs has the right mix of all three
components. Learn more about health insurance options in California,
including PPOs, EPOs and HMOs before you decide which plan is right for
you.
California Health Insurance 101: Preferred Provider
Organizations (PPOs)
Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) offer the most flexibility and
convenience of any health insurance plan in California.
You receive prescription drug coverage, affordable doctor co-pays, and
low deductible options with a PPO.
In addition, if you need to see a specialist or want to see an
out-of-network doctor or health care provider, PPOs don’t
require referrals from in-network physicians.
Even if you receive out of network health care, you are reimbursed for
health care costs with California PPO health insurance.
They provide the high quality health care with the most
flexibility.
California Health Insurance 101: Exclusive Provider
Organizations (EPOs)
Exclusive Provider Organizations’ (EPOs) health insurance
plans in California have the same sort of flexibility and convenience
as a PPO, but with some restrictions.
You will still receive discounted prescription drugs, low deductibles
and reasonably priced doctor co-pays with an EPO. However, if you have
EPO health insurance in California and want to visit an out-of-network
physician or health care provider, you will not be reimbursed. EPOs
offer more flexibility than an HMO and price-wise, they tend to fall in
between PPOs and HMOs.
California Health Insurance 101: Health Maintenance
Organizations (HMOs)
Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) are only one of many types of
managed care arrangements. However, it is one of the oldest forms of
managed care. Some describe it as "pure" managed care. If the different
types of managed care were placed along a continuum. Managed indemnity
plans, which are very similar to conventional insurance, would be at
one end. At the other end would be HMO's.
As one moves toward the HMO end of the continuum, the organizations
becomes more complex and have higher operating costs. However, more
emphasis is placed on prevention and quality of care. There is also
more opportunity to control health care costs in HMOs than in indemnity
plans.
Individuals who join an
HMO are considered members. Typically HMOs provide members with
comprehensive health care.
When someone joins an HMO, they select a primary care physician from
the list provided by the HMO. That primary care physician coordinates
all of that member's medical care.
If care by a specialist is needed, the primary care physician will
refer the member to a specialist who is usually also in the HMO
network. In an HMO, physicians may be employees of the HMO or the HMO
may contract with independent physicians to provide care.
Members who go outside of the network to receive care (unless given
prior approval) will probably pay all or most of the cost of that care
out of their own pockets.
HMOs use a "capitated" financing system. Care is provided to each
member of the plan for a fixed amount. Typically, an employer contracts
with an HMO to provide care for its employees and pays this fixed
charge.
If you are part of a Medicare HMO, than Medicare pays the fee. Some
HMOs also charge individuals a small co-payment for each visit.
If the HMO is efficient and keeps its members healthy, it will make a
profit. If it has too many members who require costly sick care, its
profits are smaller or it may lose money.
Remember under a "capitated system", the HMO is paid a fixed amount per
person rather than for each visit or by type of service.
California Health Insurance 101: Compare Affordable
PPOs, EPOs and HMOs
Compare prices for affordable health insurance from PPOs, EPOs and HMOs
in California at gotaffordablehealthinsurance.com.
Even if you already have health insurance, you can get a no-obligation quote online
today to see if we can save you money on your insurance
premiums.
For more information, contact
us at 323-937-5690 or send us
an email with your questions about finding the right
California PPO, EPO or HMO health insurance policy for your unique
needs.
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