Health Insurance Plans: What You Buy When You Buy Health Insurance



A health maintenance organization generally provides the least expensive medical care. HMOs offer medical services in exchange for a fixed monthly premium. However, HMO clients have no freedom to choose their own doctors and hospitals and can only use providers in the HMO network. Doctors belonging to a particular HMO normally refer patients to other HMO doctor members, and a referral from an HMO primary care doctor is needed in order to see a specialist.



A preferred provider organization, or PPO, allows its members greater lattitude in choosing which doctors they can see. Physicians within a PPO make referrals, but the members can refer themselves to doctors and sp...
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