What's the difference between a PPO and HMO?

[Syringer]

?

 

[Mill]

Text

 

[Rkonster]

I am sure there are a lot more differences, but generally, PPO's allow you to go to whatever doctor you want, instead of one choosen from a specific list.

 

[cliftonite]

I think the main difference is that in an HMO all of your medical needs have to be setup through a Primary care physician. Not sure exactly how it works under a PPO but I believe that you can go see who ever you want.

 

[wyvrn]

HMO's have a smaller network of people you can go to, and if you go to a non-network doctor then they pay a smaller percentage of the bill. But you typically have smaller premiums and copays with an HMO. On PPO you have more options for doctors (you can keep your existing physician in most cases), but you pay higher premiums and larger percentage of procedures. At least on every health plan I have had, that's the way it was. I chose HMO because I usually go in for checkups only and don't travel enough to warrant a wider area of coverage, and it saved me lots on premiums.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Contrary to popular belief . . . PPOs only work if the carrier actually has a wide area of service. It is quite common to have PPOs with fewer approved physicians than a HMO. Most HMOs have true gatekeepers and a degree of capitation (limited spending per provider) that exceeds PPOs but a good HMO should also provide wraparound care that few PPOs can match.

 

[leung324]

PPO is better than HMO.
I had a HMO doctor, they are lack of incentive. it is much like they have a quota for a day.