Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)

Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)

http://insureme.us/hmo-vs-ppo-other/

Persons enrolled in an HMO are required to obtain most, if not all, of their health care needs from health care providers from within their network. An HMO will oblige that you select from a wide range of primary care physicians (PCP) who will be responsible for administer and coordinate all of your health care needs. The PCP will serve as your personal doctor and he or she will render the basic health care services you require. These may be internal medicine doctors, family physicians and even gynecologists for women. You may also select from a network of pediatricians or family physicians to provide your children with health care. In order for you to obtain a diagnostic service or the services of a specialist (such as a cardiologist or surgeon) within the network, your PCP will need to give you a referral. If a referral is not given to you, or if you choose to get these services from outside of your network, you will need to pay for most of, if not the entire cost of that particular service.