Choose Between PPOs, HMOs and EMOs
Comparing PPO, EMO and HMO Health Insurance Plans Before Buying
Jan 24, 2008
When trying to find individual health insurance, it's important to understand the difference between PPOs, HMOs and EMOs. There are a number benefits to using PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations), EMOs (Exclusive Provider Organizations) and HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) for individual health insurance needs. Compare PPO health insurance, EMOs and HMO insurance plans before buying to learn more.
Before Getting Health Insurance Quotes
Before getting health insurance quotes, identify what kinds of coverage are needed. The price of an insurance policy, the coverages provided and convenience are all important factors in the insurance buying decision. Give careful consideration to all of these policy features before requesting health insurance quotes.
PPOs Provide Convenience, But Can Be Costly
PPO individual health insurance plans are the most convenient type of health insurance. With a PPO policyholders get affordable doctor’s visit co-pays, have low deductible options and prescription drug coverage. And if a patient needs to visit a specialist who isn’t in the PPO’s health insurance network, they don’t have to get a referral first. Patients are also reimbursed for their individual health insurance expenses with a PPO when they see physicians that are outside of the network. PPO health insurance quotes are not as affordable as HMO health insurance plans. However, PPOs provide a lot of flexibility. If that’s important, then a PPO might be the best choice.
EPO - Not an Average PPO Health Insurance Plan
EPOs are similar to PPO health insurance plans with a few key differences. Policyholders don’t receive reimbursement for visiting out-of-network doctors with an EPO. They will still receive the same kinds of discounts on prescription drugs, low doctor’s office co-pays and multiple deductible options with an EPO that are found with a PPO. When you review health insurance quotes, you’ll find most EPOs fall somewhere in between HMOs and PPOs.
HMO Insurance Plans Offer Affordable Health Insurance
HMOs have low insurance premiums and are usually the most affordable health insurance plan, outside of catastrophic insurance. HMOs give the same kinds of discounts on prescription drugs, low deductible options and inexpensive doctor’s office co-pays that are found with PPO health insurance. But HMO insurance plans only provide patients with coverage for in-network physicians and HMOs only have a limited network of physicians. That may mean more drive time when it's time to go to a doctor. HMOs are an affordable health insurance option but the lack of convenience may prove to be a problem.
Get more helpful tips for paying for medical expenses. And find out how to save on prescription drug costs and decrease insurance premiums.
