Managed Care Health Insurance Plans

Contributed by Jordan FeRoss

A managed care health plan works as a network. It is a group of medical personnel and facilities that have a contract with this particular plan. They all work together to offer medical services to those that are members. For the most part, this plan has requirements that members use the medical personnel and facilities within the plan's network. In a nutshell, using this plan is limited as far as providers, but benefits you on the cost. Health care insurance in Texas uses this overall plan.

A managed health care plan is usually cheaper than fee-for service plan. For health care insurance in Texas, their reasoning for charging lower rates is because their hand picked medical personnel and facilities. They allow low rates for these kinds of plans. This plan also focuses on taking care of yourself so that you can avoid getting sick unnecessarily.

Managed care providers offer three different categories of health insurance in Texas:

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization)

The HMO is unique in that it requires the patient to choose a Primary Care Physician (PCP) and work directly with that doctor for all care. Patients must see their PCP before visiting a specialist, receiving tests or being admitted to a hospital to get the PCP's (and insurer's) approval. The PCP will refer patients only to doctors within the HMO's network and patients pay a co-pay for office visits but there are often no deductibles. The HMO is generally the least expensive choice in managed care.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization)

This plan allows you to see any doctor you choose. The only disadvantage with this is that if the doctor is outside of the network, you will have to pay more. With health care insurance in Texas, it is strongly encouraged that people use a doctor within the network.

POS (Point Of Service)

A POS is an optional plan that will allow you to utilize providers that are not in your HMO network. This means you don't have to get a referral. Unfortunately, once again using out-of-network providers will cause you to incur a higher fee as with the other health insurance options in Texas.

Even for those lucky enough to have an employer-sponsored health insurance plan in Texas, you'll most likely still need to pay a monthly premium. And, premiums aren't the only out-of-pocket costs for patients. Many insurance plans have high deductibles, which must be met before the insurer will pay any benefits to the insured, including emergency care. You'll want to compare plans and know your financial responsibility before choosing one.

Each time that you have to see a doctor, you will have to make a co-payment. You will also have to make a co-payment each time you get a prescription filled. There is a certain amount in out-of-pocket expenses that you are required to pay in regard to co-payments. After you have reached the limit and if you reach it within that calendar year, the insurance will kick in and pay 100% of your services. After you have paid your deductible, you will have to pay co-insurance. This is in regard to PPO and POS plans that have network and out-of-network services.

If you have health care insurance in Texas, it is important that you go over these plans and determine which one would benefit you the most. It's even more crucial if you have a family because you have to also look out for them.

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