Health insurance plan & network types: HMOs, PPOs, and more
There are different types of Marketplace health insurance plans designed to meet different needs. Some types of plans restrict your provider choices or encourage you to get care from the plan’s network of doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and other medical service providers. Others pay a greater share of costs for providers outside the plan’s network.
Types of Marketplace plans
Depending on how many plans are offered in your area, you may find plans of all or any of these types at each metal level – Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
Some examples of plan types you’ll find in the Marketplace:
- Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO):A managed care plan where services are covered only if you use doctors, specialists, or hospitals in the plan’s network (except in an emergency).
- Health Maintenance Organization (HMO):A type of health insurance plan that usually limits coverage to care from doctors who work for or contract with the HMO. It generally won't cover out-of-network care except in an emergency. An HMO may require you to live or work in its service area to be eligible for coverage. HMOs often provide integrated care and focus on prevention and wellness.
- Point of Service (POS):A type of plan where you pay less if you use doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers that belong to the plan’s network. POS plans require you to get a referral from your primary care doctor in order to see a specialist.
- Preferred Provider Organization (PPO):A type of health plan where you pay less if you use providers in the plan’s network. You can use doctors, hospitals, and providers outside of the network without a referral for an additional cost.
FAQs
Compared to PPOs, HMOs cost less. However, PPOs generally offer greater flexibility in seeing specialists, have larger networks than HMOs, and offer some out-of-network coverage.
What are the four most common health insurance plans? ›
Preferred provider organization (PPO) plan. Health maintenance organization (HMO) plan. Point of service (POS) plan. Exclusive provider organization (EPO)
What is better, HMO or PPO or EPO? ›
EPO plans offer a larger network than an HMO plan but typically do not have the out-of-network benefits of PPO plans. EPO plans do not require you to select a primary care physician (PCP) giving you a broader network of providers.
Why do doctors prefer PPO over HMO? ›
Doctors often prefer PPOs because they offer greater reimbursem*nt rates compared to HMOs and have less administrative paperwork. Is a PPO a good thing? For many, a PPO's flexibility and coverage make it a favorable choice, but it comes with higher premiums.
What is a disadvantage of a PPO plan? ›
What Are Disadvantages of PPO Plans? PPO plans tend to be more expensive than other managed-care options. They typically have higher monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs, like deductibles.
What are the three 3 main types of insurance? ›
Although there are many insurance policy types, some of the most common are life, health, homeowners, and auto. The right type of insurance for you will depend on your goals and financial situation. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Which type of health insurance covers the most people? ›
Of the subtypes of health insurance coverage, employment-based insurance was the most common, covering 54.5 percent of the population for some or all of the calendar year, followed by Medicaid (18.8 percent), Medicare (18.7 percent), direct-purchase coverage (9.9 percent), TRICARE (2.4 percent), and VA and CHAMPVA ...
Is Blue Shield HMO better than PPO? ›
HMO plans are generally less expensive than PPO plans, with lower monthly payments, making them ideal if your favorite doctors are already in the network, or if you receive most of your care close to home.
How much more expensive is a PPO than HMO? ›
It's free, simple and secure. HMOs have more restrictions than PPOs but are cheaper, costing an average of $41 less per month. Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) are insurance plans that cover basic and specialized health or dental care.
Is Cigna a PPO or HMO? ›
Cigna HealthcareSM* PPO plans are a large, national network similar to Open Access Plus (OAP) plans, but offers more choice with flexibility for out-of-network care. Our national network of Primary Care Providers (PCPs) and facilities makes it easy for employees to get access to care when needed.
HMO plans frequently need primary care physicians to refer patients and have constrained provider networks, which may frustrate some physicians. Yet, HMO plans often have lower consumer out-of-pocket payments, which may appeal to physicians who wish to provide appropriate care.
Are copays higher with HMO or PPO? ›
With PPO plans, you are picking up more of the costs when you get sick or hurt. Copays are higher, deductibles can range from $500 to $5000 and co-insurance usually runs around 30-40% depending on the plan.
What is network type in health insurance? ›
There are four types of health insurance networks: HMO, PPO, POS and EPO. The type of network determines where you can get medical care, how much you have to pay when you see a doctor and how easy it is to see a specialist.
What does do you belong to a PPO or HMO mean? ›
To start, HMO stands for Health Maintenance Organization, and the coverage restricts patients to a particular group of physicians called a network. PPO is short for Preferred Provider Organization and allows patients to choose any physician they wish, either inside or outside of their network.
In which of the following ways do PPOs differ from HMOs? ›
HMOs provide benefits on a prepaid basis. HMOs contract directly with employees. PPOs aim at providing high - quality health services at high costs. PPOs focus on preventive measures and outpatient care.
Is a PPO a health plan with a network of providers? ›
A type of health 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.