Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

What is PPO health insurance?

PPO health insurance, also known as a Preferred Provider Organization, is a healthcare plan that contracts with medical providers, such as hospitals and doctors, to create a network of participating providers. You pay less if you use providers that belong to the plan’s network. You can use doctors, hospitals, and providers outside of the network for an additional cost. Your Primary Care Physician (PCP) will conduct all your medical checkups at no charge. Unlike HMO, you might get your PCP referral for in-network consultation. You will need your PCP to refer you for out-of-network consultation.

Why should select PPO health insurance:

• When you need regular health checkups

If you paid out-of-pocket and deductibles from your general plan for your daily healthcare requirements, it would become costly. With a PPO along with your plan, you do not pay every time you need medical help. Your PPO will provide you huge deductions within the policy.

• You are a PPO plan enrollee; you get regular medical care at huge discounts.

For all patients with chronic symptoms, you may have regular prescription drugs, visit physicians and specialists under PPO health insurance.

• All your medical costs under PPO health insurance will be covered, as insurance companies will pay to the in-networks within your PPO for your medical care. When you visit any specialist within your network, the PPO covers your expenses.

• Your PPO will negotiate your medical cost

For all your tests, health checkups, emergency room visits, out-patient consultation, or in-patient admissions, it is your PPO that decides what you will pay.

• Don’t worry about the conflicts between insurers and the carriers.

Whether you choose Aetna, Humana, or any other carrier, your insurance provider will negotiate the premiums you have to pay, what out-of-pocket costs, etc., you will pay. There are fixed rules that every carrier has to follow when the enrollee looks for a PPO health plan.

• Your PPO will provide the solution.

In the case of a severe health condition, your PCP will decide which medical services are appropriate. He will generally provide you a list of in-network specialists you can choose from. If you wish to show someone from out of network, your PCP can refer you.

• PPO insurance has contracts between networks not to switch providers to get medical coverage for different networks.

Your PPO health plan will take care of providing the fees for your treatments, checkups, and other medical needs despite the provider you choose. For all networks, your PPO healthcare plan will manage your care and expenses.

• There is a catch in PPO. Your insurance provider will scrutinize your test reports and decide if you need extra medical attention.

Don’t be overjoyed that you will cover all your medical needs. If you create unnecessary medical requirements, your PPO will check all your reports and decide if you need these treatments.

Your HMO health insurance plan does not allow you to afford its services if you pick health care from out-of-network, other than in genuine emergencies. With a PPO health plan, you can choose both in-network and out-of-network medical facilities; however, you will pay a much lesser cost if you select in-network facilities. If you are buying health insurance for the first time, choosing a PPO health insurance may be a wiser solution for you. In PPO, you may get your prescription drugs covered if you join a plan covering drugs in its plan.

PPO plans will be suitable only if:

• Require to be free to select the health care provider according to your needs.
• If a part of out-of-network costs you wish your insurer to cover.
• You don’t need referrals before you have visited a specialist.

PPO Vs. EPO

Once you have enrolled in a PPO health insurance plan, you will be under your health insurance coverage even if you show out-of-network. However, your reimbursements will have comparatively higher deductibles and out-of-pocket payments than with in-network. However, for EPO, there is no reimbursement provided for out-of-network consultation and medical care.

PPO Dental Insurance plans

Your dental care is one of the most regular and essential health facilities you need. With a PPO dental insurance plan, you will get both in-network and out-of-network coverage along with a PCP dentist.

PPO Vision Insurance plans

You will receive most services at a discounted rate for your eye care, including regular eye checkups, glasses, and surgery through your in-network care.