What do I need to know about Managed Care Insurance: HMO, PPO, & and POS plans?
An HMO provides comprehensive health services to its members for a prepaid fixed fee, equivalent to an insurance premium. A PPO differs from an HMO in that the PPO has no separate physical facility in which to see patients. Patients visit their family physician and community hospital as they normally would, and if these service providers have contracts with the PPO, services will be paid for by the PPO at the contracted rates.