Different Types Of Alabama Group Health Insurance

There are different types of Alabama group health insurance available. The two main categories under which healthcare plans fall are fully insured and self insured. A fully insured plan is where the insurance company takes all the risk and pays for the claims made by group members. A self insured plan is where the employer takes all the risk and pays for the claims made by group members. The majority of plans are fully insured plans, for obvious reasons. Within these categories are other categories, including HMO, PPO and POS.

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HMO stands for health maintenance organization and is a popular type of insurance plan for several reasons. First of all, it is often the most affordable plan available. The paperwork necessary for such a plan is considered minimal, and the copayments are usually low. A copayment is the amount of money due up front when seeing a doctor or picking up a prescription. This amount may be as small as $5 but usually ranges from $10 to $30. There are of course some disadvantages also. HMOs are considered restrictive by some as they do require you to choose from certain providers and use a primary care provider for all your healthcare needs.

PPO stands for preferred provider organization. This type of plan offers low copayments in exchange for adherence to the network of chosen providers. You can go to an out of network healthcare provider but you will not receive the benefits associated with staying in the network. One way a PPO plan is different from an HMO is that you can see a specialist without PCP referral if that specialist is within the network. One drawback of this plan is the paperwork and expense if you see a doctor outside of the designated network.

Another type of Alabama group health insurance is the POS or point of service plan. You get coverage whether you see an in or out of network provider, although the savings you receive are substantially less. A POS plan often offers a variety of services that are not available with an HMO or PPO such as fitness center discounts and help with quitting smoking, for example. Your insurance administrator can tell you more about the group plan offered at your workplace and what is covered.

 


 

 

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