What is a PPO?
PPO stands for Preferred Provider Organization. This is a group of doctors or hospitals that negotiate lower rates on their services with the insurance network. This can save you on medical costs if you go to the doctor on a regular basis for preventative care, visits, and outpatient procedures.
In an HMO (health maintenance organization) plan, you are limited on which doctors you can see, and can be very restrictive. HMO plans set up a narrow network of doctors similar to a PPO, but as HowStuffWorks explains, “from this network, you must choose a primary-care physician (PCP) who helps co-ordinate your care using other providers in the network. If you receive health care from providers outside the network, the plan won’t cover the cost, nor will it give you in-plan discounts. Unfortunately with HMOs, the basic rule is to stay in the network, and both you and your provider are expected to adhere to it.”
With a PPO plan, you are not restricted by a narrow network, instead, you use widely accepted networks by your Dr and allows you to visit any doctors within that PPO network, without restrictions. There may be a provider who specializes in your condition who isn’t in your network, but with a PPO you are much more likely to have access to care and a wider range of Drs to choose from.
This can also be a huge help in an emergency! In the unfortunate event of a car accident or other sudden injury, for example, is the nearest hospital in your network? With a PPO plan, there’s no restriction to where you can go, so you can get fast emergency care without having to worry about fighting your insurance company to cover your services. PPO’s also offer the benefit of not requiring a primary care physician’s approval to see specialists. This saves you unnecessary visits, and lets you tackle your health directly without additional steps and long booking delays.
So to save on routine medical costs, have the freedom to find specialists in a wide network, and protect yourself in an emergency, take a look at PPO healthcare plans. At Good Faith Health Insurance, we’ll talk to you one-on-one to build a plan that fits your needs and your budget. Reach out to us today and take control of your health!
