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Health Maintenance Organizations
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
A health plan that provides care through a network of physicians and hospitals in particular geographic or service areas. HMOs coordinate the health care service you receive and free you from completing paperwork or being billed for covered services. Your eligibility to enroll in an HMO is determined by where you live or, for some plans, where you work. Some HMOs are affiliated with or have arrangements with HMOs in other service areas for non-emergency care if you travel or are away from home for extended periods. Plans that offer reciprocity discuss it in their brochure. HMOs limit your out-of-pocket costs to the relatively low amounts shown in the benefit brochures.
Issues to Consider When Choosing an HMO PlanThe HMO provides a comprehensive set of services as long as you use the doctors and hospitals affiliated with the HMO. HMOs charge a copayment for primary physician and specialist visits and generally no deductible or coinsurance for in-hospital care.
Most HMOs ask you to choose a doctor or medical group to be your primary care physician (PCP). Your PCP provides your general medical care. In many HMOs, you must get authorization or a “referral” from your PCP to see other providers. The referral is a recommendation by your physician for you to be evaluated and/or treated by a different physician or medical professional. The referral ensures that you see the right provider for the care most appropriate to your condition.
Care received from a provider not in the plan’s network is not covered unless it’s emergency care or the plan has a reciprocity arrangement.
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