Definition of Health Insurance

PPO- This plan contracts with physicians and facilities to perform services and a specified rate. Its to ensure that PPO members are charged less than nonmembers

The types of managed care are differentiated by definition, operation, structure, and information needs. `HMOs were the most common type of MCO until commercial insurance companies developed PPOs to compete with HMOs' (Douglas, 2003, p.331). `HMOs are business entities that either arrange for or provide health services to an enrolled population after prepayment of a fixed sum of money, called a premium' (Peden, 1998, p.78). There are three characteristics that an HMO must have. The first is a health care financing and delivery system that provides services for members in a particular geographic area. Second, is ensured access to a complete range of health care services, health maintenance, treatment, and routine checkups. Last, health care must be obtained from voluntary personnel that participate in the HMO. The five HMO models related to the participating physicians are the Staff

Another type of managed care program that was introduced is the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). A PPO is comprised of a group of physicians, hospitals and other medical service providers who contract with employers, insurance companies or other plan sponsors. The PPO offers discounted pricing to these contracted organizations due to the high volume of business received. PPO’s typically have up-front cost sharing in the form of deductibles and/or co-insurance, which vary depending upon the actual plan chosen.

HMOs are usually the least expensive health plans, offer predictable costs for health care, the least administrative paperwork, and cover preventive care (Barsukiewicz, Raffel, & Raffel, 2010). However, HMOs also restrict direct access to specialists by requiring referrals by a PCP, requiring patients to see a provider in the HMO network, and often not covering more costly procedures or care options, because care is managed to control excessive or unnecessary care. Providers gain if they provide less care (Austin & Wetle, 2012). This incentive could affect patient-provider trust.

The patient is informed about their coverage and the amount of copayment they would have to pay.

This insurance encouraged people that had this basic form of insurance to get a second opinion on their medical issues especially elective surgeries. You had to pay for services that you were receiving right away.

It is composed of its members, plans, payments and providers. The members make up the patients, and every patient has their own "benefits" when it comes to healthcare coverage. Each person's "benefits" varies widely. What it typically means is that the health plan provides coverage for certain types of medical procedures, services and goods. This coverage is provided only under certain circumstances described in the plan. The payments are made by "payers," which manage the "benefits" for healthcare procedures, services, and goods. Basically, what procedures, services, and goods will be paid for, how much they will pay for it, when their "benefits" cover it, and how much the patient will have to pay out of pocket. As for the different types of payers, they range widely from health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs) and managed care organization (MCOs). These types of payers can also be not for profit, for-profit, or member owned. Last is the providers, these are the people and/or manufacturers who perform the services and/or procedures for the patients. The providers then contact the patient’s insurance holders to receive payment for their services. Besides members, plans, payments, and providers, managed care is also composed of manufacturers. They manufacture the pharmaceuticals used, as well as the medical devices. When

Preferred provider organizations have also contracted with hospitals and physicians to provide health-care services. Unlike the case with an HMO, you do not have to go to these physicians. However, you will pay more if you go outside the list of preferred providers. PPO plans usually have a deductible, which is the amount that the insured must pay before the PPO begins to pay. When the PPO plan does start to pay, it will usually pay a percentage of the bill and you have to pay the remainder, which is called “coinsurance.” Most plans have an out-of-pocket maximum. This helps protect you from paying more than a certain amount per year. After you exceed the out-of-pocket maximum, the coinsurance percentage paid by the PPO increases to 100%. (www.ajmc.com)

Today, there are several types of managed care plans including Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), HMOs, and Point-of-Service (POS) plans. There are many types of HMOs that offer members a variety of health benefits. An HMO plan requires the member to use health care providers and facilities within the HMO network in order receive coverage, unless it is an emergency (Andrews, 2014, p. 1). A PPO is a form of managed care that most resembles a fee-for-service type situation. The plan members can generally refer themselves to doctors, including doctors outside the plan, although they typically will pay a higher percentage of the cost if the doctor is out of the network (Andrews, 2014, p. 1). A POS plan allows members to refer themselves outside the HMO network and still get some coverage (Andrews, 2014, p. 1). While these

Insurance is separated into categories called Major Medical Plans, Qualified Health Plans, and Catastrophic Plans. Major medical plans consist of Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans: HMOs are one of the most popular types of health insurance you can purchase. With this plan, an entire network of health care providers agrees to offer you its services. You have to select a primary care provider (PCP) who coordinates all of your health services and care (Ehealth, 2014), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans: Under a PPO plan, both you and your family can see any health care provider in their network, including specialists, without a referral. In most cases, you don’t have to

Managed Care is a complex health care system in which physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare professionals organize in an interrelated system of people and facilities that communicate with one another and work together as a unit, commonly referred to as a network. This network coordinates and arranges health care services and benefits for a specific group of individuals, referred as enrollees, for the purpose of managing costs, quality, and access to health care. The Managed care program may be provided in a variety of settings, such as Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). In Health Maintenance Organization, the insurance company will only pay for care within the network. The member will pick a primary care provider who coordinates most of their care. Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) usually pays more if the member will get care within the network, but they still pay a portion if the member will go outside. And Point of Service (POS) plans let you choose between an HMO and a PPO each time you need care (Merrick, 2013).

A preferred provider organization (PPO) plan gives patients the flexibility to see providers and specialists within or outside the network of care; it will typically cost less to receive care from an in-network provider (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, n.d.). In most cases, referrals for specialists and designating one physician as a primary care provider is not required of a PPO plan. (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, n.d.). Alternatively, a health maintenance organization (HMO) limits patients to receive care from doctors, specialists, and hospitals covered under the health plan (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, n.d.). With the exception of emergency can and out-of-area urgent care, all care providers

The PPO gives discounts, with its doctors and hospitals that participation, and then pays a fee for services given. Patients have a list that they can pick from for a primary physician. The patient pays a set fee per office visit and the insurance provider pays the rest. It’s basically a co-payment which depends on what type of plan they have. However, like an HMO, the PPO has to choose a physician in that network, if they don’t they may be charged a penalty.

The United States being referred for specialties depends on the insurance plan (Mossialos, Wenzel, Osborn, Sarnak, 2016, pp. 171-177). Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans give access to certain healthcare organizations and physician within their network that have agreed to lower rates for their services. The individual must agree to these services to have services covered. All services will be coordinated by the primary care physician PCP. Medicaid coverage is also based on these principles. Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan have higher premiums but give more flexibility. PPO allows the individual to see any physician they choose but cost is less if the individual stays within the network. PPO does not require that the individual have a PCP. No referrals for specialist are needed.

PPO stands for preferred provider organization. With this health plan can go to any primary care physician (PCP) and you do not have to have a referral in order to see a specialist. If you