Monday, February 2, 2009

Health Care Insurance - Managed Care Health Plans

By Jordan FeRoss

Managed care health plans work as a network or group of medical professionals and hospitals that are contracted with the health plan. This helps insurance companies and health care providers work together to give patients the care they need. Usually, a managed care plan requires that its members only obtain services through doctors and hospitals that are in their network. Basically, you are more limited in choosing your health care providers, but the advantage is that you save money. Most health insurance providers in Texas use managed care plans.

The appeal of managed health care plans lies in the fact that they have lower premiums than other types of health insurance in Texas. This is largely due to the rates and fees charged for medical services agreed upon by the doctors and hospitals. They are chosen because they are willing to reduce their rates to work with the insurer. Expensive diagnostic testing and certain medical procedures are kept to a minimum or avoided entirely. In addition, managed care health plans offer wellness programs such as smoking cessation, so patients will stay healthier and require fewer visits to doctors and hospitals.

There are three basic types of plans when it comes to managed health insurance in Texas:

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) - With this plan, you can use doctors and other medical services that are within this network. It works the same way with health care insurance in Texas. An HMO has a primary care physician that you can select from the network. Members pay a set fee each time they visit the doctor.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) - A PPO allows for slightly more options because you can go to any doctor you choose. The downside of that is that you will pay more for doctors that are out of the network. As with most health insurance options in Texas, you are better off sticking with providers in the PPO network.

POS (Point Of Service) - POS plans are great for anyone who's been with a doctor and does not want to change when there is a change in insurance as they tend to have sizable networks. And, like the PPO, patients can see any doctor they'd like without a referral but there is still a network of doctors. Patients choosing to leave the network will find their medical bills much higher than with other health insurance in Texas. A POS plan also the most expensive type of plan because there are fewer barriers for the patient before he/she can receive care.

Most health insurance options in Texas will require you to pay some type of premium, even with employer sponsored plans. Sometimes you will have to pay your entire deductible before the insurance will cover a single dime even for surgery or emergency room visits. Your deductible the amount you have to pay before your benefits kick in. This is one of the factors you want to consider when choosing a health care plan.

Also, most health insurance plans in Texas will require you to pay a co-pay every time you visit the doctor or get a prescription filled even after your deductible has been met. Some managed care plans have a yearly limit to your out-of-pocket costs and will cover 100% of any charges for medical services or medications that are incurred above and beyond this limit.

Before choosing health insurance in Texas, it is important to know all the details of the plans you're considering to ensure you will be adequately covered and paying the lest amount for the coverage you need so that you won't break the bank while caring for your health.

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